Days after 23-year-old Ayushi Sharma was arrested in Jaipur, Rajasthan in connection with the death of her mother Neeraj Sharma, 45, a relative has now questioned her father’s death as well.
Neeraj Sharma was allegedly run over by a speeding SUV in Jaipur’s Pratap Nagar area a week ago, in a murder allegedly orchestrated by her daughter. Now, Neeraj’s brother, Rakesh Sharma, has claimed that Ayushi was also involved in the death of her father, Vijay Sharma. He also claimed that Ayushi’s cousin Balram, who is currently on the run, is the alleged mastermind behind both the incidents.
“Ayushi was a friendly and caring girl, and in any case, as the eldest child, she was expected to inherit the family property. Balram manipulated and influenced her, and eventually lured her into a plot to kill her mother,” Rakesh told HT.
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“The police are still investigating the allegations made by Rakesh Sharma. The case is being examined from every angle,” Pratap Nagar SHO Puranmal Yadav told HT.
Rakesh claimed that the death of his brother-in-law, Vijay, chief justice of the Rajasthan High Court, was unnatural, and urged police to investigate it as a possible conspiracy.
According to Rakesh, Vijay suffered a brain hemorrhage in July 2024. During his treatment, Ayushi and Balram allegedly told the family that a senior doctor had advised shifting him to another hospital for better care. They then transferred Vijay to another hospital. Rakesh alleged that for about three months, the family was not informed about the hospital where Vijay was admitted or its location.
Whenever Neeraj inquired about Vijay, Ayushi allegedly told her that he was undergoing treatment at a private hospital on Delhi Road. Neeraj was unable to visit him due to her ill health. The family was later informed that Vijay’s condition had deteriorated and he had been shifted to the intensive care unit of another private hospital. When his relatives finally arrived at the hospital, doctors allegedly told them that most of his organs were severely damaged. Vijay was sent home in April 2025 and died shortly afterwards.
Rakesh alleged that Ayushi initially thought she would secure her father’s government job on humanitarian grounds after his death. However, since she had only completed Class 12, family members advised her that the appointment should go to Neeraj to ensure financial security for both Ayushi and her 16-year-old brother. Rakesh said Neeraj’s appointment upset Ayushi.
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On July 3, Neeraj was on her morning walk about 100 meters from her home when she was run over by an SUV. Rakesh filed a complaint the next day, which led to the arrest of five accused this week, including Ayushi.
Investigators claimed that Balram had arranged $7 lakh to hire contract killers and hand over the money to co-accused Hemant. Balram is still on the run.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Ranjita Sharma said that the police are searching for Balram and will also examine the complaint filed by Neeraj’s family.
During interrogation, police learned that Ayushi had tried to kill Neeraj almost a month before the murder by running over her with an SUV, but she abandoned the plan due to heavy traffic.
Rakesh also alleged that Ayushi performed black magic rituals at her house with a group of friends a few days before the murder. Police are verifying these allegations and examining surveillance camera footage to determine who was present and whether the gathering has any connection to the crime.
