28-year-old woman set on fire in Greater Noida; videos of assault over dowry demands surface online

Victim’s father-in-law taken into custody; husband, mother-in-law, and brother-in-law arrested earlier

Greater Noida: In the case of the dowry death of Nikki Bhati, a 28-year-old woman who was set on fire at her in-laws’ home on August 21, the Uttar Pradesh police have made the fourth arrest.

The latest arrest was of Nikki’s father-in-law, following the apprehension of her brother-in-law earlier on Monday.

Sisters Nikki and Kanchan Bhati were married into the same household in Sirsa, Greater Noida, in December 2016. According to the victim’s family, Nikki had faced years of harassment over dowry demands totaling Rs 36 lakh, despite fulfilling the family’s previous demands for a Scorpio vehicle and a motorcycle.

On August 21, Nikki was allegedly set ablaze by her husband, Vipin Bhati, and another family member. Police said the altercation arose after Nikki posted reels on Instagram and expressed her wish to reopen a beauty parlour she had previously run. Disturbing videos circulated on social media showing Vipin and another woman assaulting Nikki, dragging her by the hair, pouring a liquid thinner on her, and leaving her severely burnt. One video captured Nikki collapsing while walking down a staircase.

Nikki was interrogated by police on Sunday, August 22, shortly before succumbing to her injuries. Vipin Bhati, accused of murdering her over dowry demands, was arrested on Saturday, August 23, after sustaining injuries in a police encounter and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. Nikki’s mother-in-law was arrested on Sunday, August 24. On Monday, her brother-in-law, who is married to her sister, and father-in-law were taken into custody.

During questioning, Vipin Bhati reportedly admitted to the crime and expressed “no remorse,” according to reports quoting police sources. The victim’s family highlighted that Nikki had endured years of torture, with ongoing pressure for money and gifts, culminating in her tragic death.

Several videos released online show the brutal assault, including one where a man pours thinner on Nikki, another showing her being physically assaulted by Vipin, and footage of her severely burnt and collapsing.

The case is under investigation, with police continuing to interrogate the arrested family members and collect evidence. Authorities are examining whether other accomplices were involved and assessing the wider circumstances that led to this horrific incident.