Greater Noida: New video evidence has surfaced in the case of Nikki Bhati, the 28-year-old woman who was allegedly set ablaze for dowry by her husband and in-laws, casting doubt on earlier claims made by her family members. Nikki, who lived in Sirsa village of Greater Noida, died on August 21 after suffering severe burn injuries.
The incident sparked outrage after Nikki’s sister Kanchan, who is also married into the same family, alleged that Nikki’s husband Vipin and his relatives doused her in a liquid and set her on fire. Kanchan claimed she fell unconscious after witnessing the crime and that the in-laws fled immediately afterwards.
Video shows father-in-law at funeral
Contrary to these claims, a video from Nikki’s funeral, held the following morning, shows several of her in-laws present. In fact, her father-in-law can be seen lighting the funeral pyre, raising questions about whether all family members had indeed absconded after the crime.
Nikki’s father, Bhikari Singh Palya, had initially alleged that all the in-laws except the father-in-law went on the run after the murder. However, the footage suggests that at least some of them stayed back for the last rites.
Case filed against family members
A case was registered hours after the funeral, around 12:40 pm, naming Nikki’s husband Vipin, her brother-in-law Rohit (Kanchan’s husband), and her parents-in-law. All four have since been arrested.
During the arrest operation, Vipin allegedly tried to snatch a policeman’s pistol and was shot in the leg. Police confirmed that he is under custody and receiving medical treatment.
Earlier videos of assault emerge
The case took an even more disturbing turn when videos from the night of the incident emerged last week. One clip showed Vipin, shirtless and bleeding, dragging Nikki by her hair along with another woman. Other footage captured Nikki engulfed in flames as she stumbled down the stairs before collapsing, her burn injuries clearly visible.
These visuals corroborated parts of Kanchan’s testimony about the brutal assault but also complicated the narrative of what followed immediately after the incident.
Allegations of dowry harassment
Kanchan had earlier told the police and media that both she and her sister were subjected to constant dowry demands. “We were being tortured, our in-laws told us they did not get what they wanted during the wedding. They asked us to bring ₹36 lakh more as additional dowry. I was assaulted between 1:30 am and 4 am on Thursday. They told me, ‘We got dowry for one sister, what about the other? You are better off dead’,” she alleged.
She further said that on the same evening, her sister was brutally assaulted in front of her and the children. “They poured some liquid on her and set her ablaze before my eyes. I tried to save her but could not. Someone took her to the hospital while I had fallen unconscious,” Kanchan added.
Investigation underway
Superintendent of Police and senior officials have confirmed that the investigation is focusing on both the dowry harassment angle and the inconsistencies in witness testimonies. Police sources said the funeral video will be treated as crucial evidence to establish the sequence of events after the alleged crime.
The case has reignited conversations around the menace of dowry-related violence in Uttar Pradesh, where women’s rights activists have demanded swift justice and stricter enforcement of anti-dowry laws.