Noida Dowry Death: Family of Victim Grants Last Wish to Accused

In a deeply unusual development in the dowry death case of Nikki Bhati, the 26-year-old woman who was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws, her own family, despite having filed a murder complaint against the accused, permitted the in-laws to perform her last rites. This decision, a source of confusion and scrutiny for investigators, was reportedly a “last request” from the deceased’s matrimonial family.

The case, which has shocked the nation with its chilling details of years of alleged torture and a brutal final assault caught on video, took a perplexing turn when the police discovered that Nikki was cremated at her in-laws’ home in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village. The victim’s family, who had accused her husband, Vipin Bhati, and his parents of murder over dowry demands of a staggering ₹36 lakh, was present during the cremation.

According to a police official, the victim’s family, headed by her father Bhikahri Singh, said they agreed to the in-laws’ request to cremate Nikki. “They came and requested us that they wanted to perform the last rites of their daughter-in-law. It was their last request, and we agreed,” a family member was quoted as saying. The police are now investigating the circumstances surrounding this decision, questioning why the family of the victim would allow the family of the accused, against whom they had filed a First Information Report (FIR), to perform such a significant ritual.

This latest development adds a new layer of complexity to an already horrifying case. The brutal dowry-related murder of Nikki Bhati came to light after her sister, who is also married into the same family, recorded a video of the assault and shared it on social media. The videos, which have since gone viral, show Nikki being brutally beaten and then staggering down a staircase with severe burns, a sight that has sparked widespread outrage and demands for swift justice.

The victim’s family has previously recounted a harrowing nine years of torture and abuse endured by both Nikki and her sister, Kanchan, since their marriages in 2016. The family alleges that repeated demands for dowry, including luxury cars and cash, escalated over the years. They have stated that despite their best efforts to appease the in-laws, including giving a Scorpio SUV, a Bullet motorcycle, and copious amounts of gold, the harassment never ceased.

The accused, including the husband Vipin Bhati, his mother, father, and brother, have all been arrested by the police. The husband, Vipin Bhati, was reportedly shot in the leg during an alleged escape attempt while in police custody. The case has been registered under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including murder and voluntarily causing hurt.

While the police investigation continues to unravel the full extent of the crime, the family’s decision to allow the cremation by the in-laws has become a talking point, raising questions about traditional customs and their intersection with legal proceedings in such sensitive cases. The community and authorities are now watching closely as this case progresses, seeking not only a resolution for Nikki but also a strong message against the persistent evil of dowry.