2 more held in salon manager suicide case

TNN

Lucknow: Gomtinagar police on Sunday arrested two more wanted accused carrying rewards of ₹25,000 each in the alleged suicide abetment case of a 31-year-old salon manager, a day after authorities launched demolition proceedings and sealed businesses and seized car linked to the accused.

“The arrested accused were identified as Sharad Singh, 39 and Prashant Sharma, 35. Police said both were arrested near the Himalayan Tiraha railway underpass in Sector-5 of Gomti Nagar Extension on Saturday afternoon,” said DCP, east zone, Deeksha Sharma. The case came to light earlier this week after the woman allegedly died by suicide. Before her death, she had uploaded a video on social media allegedly accusing several persons, including salon owner and some employees, of mentally harassing her.

“Following a complaint lodged by her father, Gomti Nagar Extension police registered an FIR under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment to suicide) against Sharad Singh, Pallavi Joshi, Mangalnath Yadav, Vaishali, Prashant Sharma and others,” the DCP added.

Police had earlier arrested co-accused Mangalnath Yadav, 31 and sent him to judicial custody. As the remaining accused continued to evade arrest, deputy commissioner of police (east) Diksha Sharma announced a reward of ₹25,000 each on Sharad Singh and Prashant Sharma on Saturday.

On Saturday, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), in coordination with police, initiated demolition proceedings against an allegedly illegal under-construction apartment building in Sector-6 believed to be associated with the accused. Notices were pasted on the property before portions of the structure were razed during the drive.

As part of the probe, investigators also found alleged links between the case and several commercial establishments associated with Sharad Singh. Following this, police sealed a hotel, a salon and other business premises connected to him.

“We have also taken into custody three vehicles allegedly linked to the accused and the case — a Swift, a Scorpio N and a Volvo,” Sharma said, adding that the vehicles were seized for forensic and evidentiary examination. Officials said multiple police teams had been formed to trace the remaining accused and collect further evidence in the case.