A young woman’s tragic death by fire has shaken Greater Noida, exposing a pattern of abuse, infidelity, and dowry harassment allegedly at the hands of her husband and his family. Nikki Bhati, a 28-year-old resident of Sirsa village, was allegedly burned alive in her matrimonial home on August 21. Her death has led to the arrest of four members of her in-laws’ family, including her husband, Vipin Bhati.

The case has gained widespread attention not only because of the brutality of the crime but due to the disturbing timeline of events leading up to Nikki’s murder—events involving an affair, prior assault charges, and a trail of digital and eyewitness evidence.

A History of Abuse and Control

Nikki married Vipin in 2016 when she was just 18. According to her family, the dowry given at the time included a Scorpio car, a motorcycle, and gold ornaments. But the demands didn’t end there. Her father, Bhikahri Singh, revealed that pressure for more money mounted over the years.

“Dowry was the main reason,” he said. “They burned her alive and the entire family fled. One of my daughters was burning, the other had fainted.”

He added that his daughter often asked for money to avoid conflict at home. “I get it, one should not meet these demands. But when a daughter becomes adamant — ‘Papa give me this’ — what can one do?”

Contentious Family Dynamics and Social Media Backlash

Nikki and her sister Kanchan, who is married to Vipin’s brother Rohit, co-owned a beauty parlour and frequently shared makeover videos on Instagram. Neighbours said the brothers disapproved of their wives being active on social media. According to one local, “They both used to make reels related to the makeover and would share them on social media. But both Rohit and Vipin did not like it and used to object.”

The matter once escalated to a village panchayat, after which both sisters temporarily returned to their parental home. Following an apparent resolution, they came back to their marital home on March 18.

Illicit Affair and 2024 Assault Case

Tensions deepened when Nikki discovered her husband’s extramarital affair. In October 2024, an FIR was registered at Jarcha Police Station by the woman Vipin was allegedly involved with. The woman claimed that after Nikki and Kanchan caught them together, Vipin and his friend Tushar assaulted her.

In her complaint, she alleged that she was lured outside her village, forced into a vehicle, physically abused, and threatened. Vipin reportedly thrashed the woman in front of his wife in an attempt to prove his innocence.

The Day of the Crime: August 21

On the day of the incident, Nikki was reportedly beaten before being set on fire inside the house. Her sister Kanchan captured disturbing videos showing Nikki engulfed in flames, stumbling down stairs. One clip shows Nikki being dragged by her hair, while another shows her burning.

Kanchan said the assault video was from February 11. The police verified the timestamp of the fire video as 5:45 pm. Based on this, authorities are analysing call detail records and CCTV footage to track the movements of family members during the critical time.

While Nikki’s in-laws claimed she was injured in a cylinder explosion, investigators found no evidence of such an event at the scene. Instead, they recovered a thinner bottle and lighter. Police are now questioning Fortis Hospital doctors about who provided the “cylinder blast” version in the medico-legal case.

Arrests and Conflicting Statements

Vipin Bhati, his mother Daya, father Satveer, and brother Rohit have all been arrested. Vipin was shot in the leg during what police described as an attempt to escape custody. His mother was arrested the following day, and the remaining two family members were captured near Sirsa Toll Chauraha.

The family denies involvement in Nikki’s death. In their statement, they asked, “If we had set her on fire, why would we take her to the hospital?”

However, Kanchan told police that their neighbour, Devendra, took Nikki to Fortis. Authorities are now examining hospital CCTV footage to determine who was present during Nikki’s admission.

A Community’s Silence and a Father’s Pain

This wasn’t the first instance of physical abuse. Earlier in February and again just a week before her death, Nikki and Kanchan had returned to their parents after facing beatings. Yet, each time, social and community pressure forced them back.

“They burned her alive,” said Bhikahri Singh. “The doctor told us she had suffered 70 per cent burns… We rushed her to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. We crossed the gates, and she breathed her last… What is left now?”

What Lies Ahead

The police investigation continues. With digital evidence, eyewitness accounts, and a history of domestic violence and dowry demands, the case presents a disturbing picture of systemic failure.

Investigators are examining viral videos, verifying location data, and trying to establish a watertight timeline. Nikki’s sister, her phone, and eyewitnesses will play a critical role in the court proceedings to come.