The Noida dowry murder case has seen a significant development with the arrest of the victim's brother-in-law, Rohit Bhati, near the Sirsa toll in Haryana on Monday. This marks the third arrest in the case, following the apprehension of the victim's husband, Vipin Bhati, and her mother-in-law, Daya Bhati. The victim, Nikki Bhati, 26, was allegedly set ablaze by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands.

The case has drawn widespread condemnation and sparked outrage, with Nikki's family demanding justice and the harshest punishment for the perpetrators. The National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance of the case and has demanded immediate arrests and a detailed action report from the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh. The NCW has also emphasized the need to ensure the safety of Nikki's family and any witnesses involved.

Nikki and her sister, Kanchan, were married into the same family in 2016, Nikki to Vipin Bhati and Kanchan to Rohit Bhati. According to Nikki's family, the in-laws began demanding dowry shortly after the marriage, with the demands escalating over time. The family alleges that the in-laws were demanding ₹36 lakh. Nikki's father, Bhikahri Singh, has stated that his daughter was subjected to nine years of torture.

Reports indicate that Nikki was allegedly murdered on August 21, 2025. On that day, Nikki told her husband about her plans to reopen a beauty parlor, which led to a heated argument. Nikki's sister, Kanchan, revealed that Vipin was against Nikki reopening the parlor and making reels online, stating that such activities were not allowed in their family. Hours later, Nikki's family was informed that she had been burnt alive.

Disturbing videos and testimonies have surfaced on social media, with Nikki's sister, Kanchan, accusing Vipin Bhati and his family of killing her sister for dowry. One video purportedly shows Nikki, severely burnt, walking down a staircase before collapsing. Kanchan also alleged that she was assaulted when she tried to intervene.

Vipin Bhati was arrested on Saturday. While being escorted by the police to recover evidence, he allegedly attempted to escape and was shot in the leg. He has been remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. Nikki's mother-in-law, Daya Bhati, was arrested on Sunday. Other family members, including Vipin's father, Satyaveer Bhati, are still on the run.

The police investigation has revealed that Vipin Bhati showed "no remorse" for the incident. According to police, after allegedly setting his wife on fire, he immediately fled to his relatives' house.

Nikki's death has brought immense grief to her family. Her mother, Manju, expressed her anguish, stating, "Meri laado beti chali gayi (My beloved daughter left me)". The family is demanding strict action against the entire Bhati family, with Nikki's father calling for an "encounter". Nikki was cremated by her family members.

The case is registered under sections 103(1) (murder), 115 (2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 61 (2) (attempting to commit offenses punishable with imprisonment for life or others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Kasna Police Station in Greater Noida.