Noida dowry case: Nikki Bhattis last rites performed by in-laws, video counters sisters claims

PTC News Desk: In a twist that challenges the account given by Nikki Bhati’s family, who alleged she was set on fire for dowry in Greater Noida last week, it has emerged that some of her in-laws attended her funeral, with her father-in-law even performing key last rites.

Nikki was reportedly killed on the night of Thursday, August 21. Her sister Kanchan—also married into the same family in Sirsa village, Greater Noida—claimed that Nikki was set ablaze by her husband Vipin and other in-laws. Kanchan further stated that she fainted upon witnessing her 28-year-old sister burning and alleged that the family members fled after committing the crime.

Nikki’s father, Bhikari Singh Palya, also accused all in-laws except the father-in-law of absconding after the incident. However, a video of the funeral the next morning shows her father-in-law and several members of her husband’s family present, with the father-in-law lighting the pyre.

A few hours after the cremation, at 12:40 pm, Nikki’s family lodged an FIR accusing Vipin, Kanchan’s husband Rohit, and Nikki’s in-laws of setting her on fire. All four were arrested, and Vipin was shot in the leg while attempting to snatch a policeman’s gun.

Adding to the case, a video surfaced last week showing Vipin and another woman dragging Nikki by her hair. Vipin appeared shirtless with visible blood on his torso, while other clips depicted Nikki stumbling down the stairs in flames before collapsing, her severe burn injuries evident.

"We were being tortured, our in-laws would tell us they did not get this or that during the wedding. They asked us to get Rs 36 lakh as additional dowry from our home. I was also assaulted between 1.30 am and 4 am on Thursday. They told me, 'We have got dowry for one (sister), what about the other? You are better off dead. We will marry again'. I was hit several times and I was not in my senses the entire day," Kanchan had said.