Police in Greater Noida on Sunday arrested the mother-in-law of a 28-year-old woman who was set ablaze allegedly over a dowry demand of ₹36 lakh, even as the victim’s husband was shot in the leg while attempting to escape custody a day after his arrest. The amount demanded, when converted, is approximately LKR 12.3 million.
The woman, identified as Nikki Bhati, had been married to Vipin Bhati since 2016. She was allegedly assaulted by her husband and mother-in-law, Dayavati, before being set on fire. She succumbed to her injuries at a Delhi hospital last week.
Disturbing video evidence has surfaced on social media. One clip shows Vipin and his mother assaulting Nikki and dragging her by the hair, while another shows Nikki, engulfed in flames, walking down a staircase before collapsing. The videos were reportedly recorded in part by Nikki’s sister Kanchan, who is also married into the same family.
Vipin was arrested on Saturday but attempted to flee police custody while being taken for a routine medical check-up around 1.30 p.m. on Sunday. He was chased and shot in the leg before being apprehended again, according to the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police PRO.
After his arrest, Vipin posted messages on social media framing Nikki’s death as suicide. However, police dismissed these claims following the circulation of the videos. Speaking briefly to reporters after being shot, Vipin said he had no remorse, calling his wife’s death “her own” and describing the assault as a “common fight between husband and wife.”
Nikki’s family has demanded strict action, saying she had repeatedly complained of abuse at her in-laws’ house. “We brought her back home a couple of times, but she was taken back on promises. It kept going on,” her mother said. She added that a car, a motorcycle, and gold had already been given at the time of marriage and after the birth of their son, but “he wanted even more.”
Police said further arrests are possible as investigations continue.
