The investigation surrounding Nikki Bhati’s death has been complicated by conflicting accounts, specifically regarding the actions of her in-laws. Nikki, who was reportedly a victim of a dowry-related murder in Greater Noida, was cremated by members of her husband’s family, with her father-in-law participating in the last rites. The incident occurred on August 21. Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, who is also married into the same family in Sirsa village, alleged that Nikki was set on fire and killed by her husband Vipin and other in-laws. Kanchan said she fainted after witnessing her sister burning, and that the in-laws fled. A video of the cremation, however, shows Nikki’s father-in-law, among other in-laws, present at the ceremony, and it was her father-in-law who lit the pyre. After the funeral, at 12:40 pm, Nikki’s family filed an FIR accusing Vipin, Kanchan’s husband Rohit, and other in-laws of murder; the police arrested the four. During Vipin’s arrest, he attempted to seize a police officer’s pistol, resulting in an injury to him. Another video from before the incident surfaced, showing Vipin and a woman dragging Nikki by her hair, and Vipin had blood marks on his body. Kanchan shared that she and her sister suffered continuous emotional and physical abuse, with the demands for additional dowry a major source of conflict. She also recounted being severely beaten the same morning Nikki died.
