Vipin, shot in the leg while attempting to flee, denied his role in the murder. Nikki’s father claims she had 70% burns and died in the hospital. The family protested, demanding justice.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India]: In connection with Greater Noida Dowry-Murder Case, the victim’s father Bhikahri Singh, has demanded the strictest punishment, including a police encounter and demolition of the accused family’s home under the Yogi Adityanath government’s bulldozer policy. “If justice is not served, we will sit on a hunger strike,” he stated. The family shared that both Nikki and her elder sister, Kanchan (29), were married into the Bhati family in 2016. Nikki was married to Vipin Bhati, and Kanchan to his brother Rohit. Since then, they claim both women faced nine years of relentless harassment, including demands for cash, vehicles, and gold.
“At the wedding, they asked for a top-end Scorpio. We gave it, along with 30 tola gold. Later they wanted a Bullet motorcycle, and even tried to force us to give our Mercedes or Rs 60 lakh in cash,” said Bhikahri. “Neither of the brothers worked. After we helped Nikki open a beauty parlour, Vipin started stealing money from her earnings.” Despite numerous community panchayats, the abuse allegedly never stopped.
The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday arrested all four accused in Greater Noida’s dowry murder case and informed that they will be interrogated, following which the investigation of the case will progress. According to the Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhir Kumar, the family of the victim is still in shock and all the visuals related to the case have become viral on social media. He said that the police have begun their investigation and they will proceed once they receive any kind of evidence related to the matter.
“The case was registered by the deceased’s sister… All four accused have been arrested… The family of the deceased is still in shock. Their statements will be recorded, and based on that, the investigation will proceed… All these visuals have become viral on social media, but the police have not recovered any such evidence. We have started the investigation, and it will proceed based on the evidence and facts that come forward… The husband of the deceased has been sent to judicial custody,” the police official said. The Uttar Pradesh police on Monday made the fourth arrest in the Greater Noida dowry murder case by arresting the father-in-law of the victim. This comes after the police arrested the sister in law, mother-in-law and husband of the victim.
Vipin Bhati, who is accused of murdering his wife, was shot in the leg by the police on Sunday and was later admitted to the hospital. He was sent to a 14-day judicial custody.
Police said that the husband of the deceased was accused of setting his wife on fire, who later succumbed to her injuries. He was also accused of frequently assaulting Nikki. However, Bhati denied the allegations. Speaking to ANI, he said, “I did not kill her. She died on her own.” When asked about the accusations of physical assault, he replied, “Husband and wife often have fights; it is very common…”
The victim’s father told ANI that she had 70 per cent burns and was pronounced dead at the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. “I reached there as soon as my elder daughter called me..The doctor told me she is 70% burnt..We took her to Safdarjung Hospital. The doctor told me to take her back because she would not be able to survive. He (her husband) should be hanged. They got married in 2016. He started harassing her a few days after marriage…They asked for Rs. 35 lakhs… She started her own work, and her husband began asking for the money she earned. I demand that the Court and CM give him the death penalty…”
Earlier on Sunday, the family of the deceased woman, Nikki Bhati, held a protest outside the Kasana Police station, demanding justice. The father of the deceased woman alleged that her in-laws killed her over their demand for dowry. “Her mother-in-law poured kerosene while her husband set her on fire. They kept asking for dowry; now their demands have been met. I just married my daughter as per tradition. Their dowry demands have been met now that my daughter has died. They demanded a car and tortured my daughter for that,” the father said. He also accused the husband of domestic violence.
“That person is neither man nor human; he is a butcher. We once brought her home because of all this domestic violence, but because of societal pressure, they came and took her back on the promise of not repeating this. It continued. Now they have got what they wanted,” he said. Reacting to the incident, Samajwadi Party women’s wing national president Juhi Singh demanded that the strictest punishment be given in the case. “Strictest punishment should be given in this case… The parents should empower their daughters, keep them safe and raise voice for their rights… This is not worth an apology… There are laws for crimes against women, but the government is not implementing them…” Singh said.
(With inputs from ANI)