A 28-year-old woman, Nikki, died after being set ablaze in her in-laws’ house in Sirsa village, Greater Noida, allegedly over a demand of ₹36 lakh dowry. Police have arrested her husband, Vipin Bhati, while his father and brother remain absconding.
Husband’s Social Media Post Raises Eyebrows
Just hours before his arrest, Vipin attempted to portray Nikki’s death as a suicide through emotional Instagram posts. In one message, he wrote, “Why did you leave me, Nikki? The world is calling me a killer.” He also uploaded a video of happier family moments, claiming he had lost everything.
However, these claims were swiftly contradicted by eyewitness accounts from Nikki’s relatives.
Sister and Child Provide Crucial Testimony
Nikki’s elder sister, Kanchan, married into the same family, told police that both sisters had been harassed since 2016 despite dowry already being paid in the form of a Scorpio SUV. The in-laws allegedly continued to pressure them for ₹36 lakh in cash.
According to Kanchan, she was beaten for hours earlier that night. Later, Nikki was brutally attacked and then set on fire in front of her young son.
The child confirmed her version, telling police: “They poured something on Mumma, slapped her, and set her on fire with a lighter.”
Medical Emergency and Police Action
Nikki was rushed to a private hospital and then referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi but died on the way. Based on Kanchan’s complaint, police registered a murder case under dowry death provisions. Vipin has been arrested, while his father Satyaveer Bhati and brother Rohit Bhati are on the run.
A Grim Reminder of Dowry Violence
Despite strict laws, dowry-related deaths remain a pressing issue in India. The Greater Noida case underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement and societal change to end such violent practices.
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