The question of who took Nikki Bhati's jewellery during her funeral has emerged as a significant point of contention in the ongoing investigation into her alleged dowry death in Noida. Nikki, a 26-year-old woman, died on August 21, 2025, after allegedly being set ablaze by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands.

Following Nikki's death, her in-laws, who are now accused of her murder, were present at her funeral and played a key role in her last rites. This has raised questions, especially since Nikki's sister, Kanchan, who is married to Nikki's brother-in-law, had stated that the family members had fled after the crime. Adding to the confusion, Nikki's family "reluctantly allowed" her in-laws to conduct the cremation after they repeatedly requested to do so. According to Nikki’s brother, the Bhati family's relatives conveyed that refusing them would hurt their pride.

The presence and participation of the accused in-laws in Nikki's funeral rites has cast a shadow on the claims made by Nikki's sister. Initial reports, based on Kanchan's statements, led to the arrest of Nikki's husband, Vipin Bhati, his mother Daya, father Satveer, and brother Rohit. Kanchan had alleged that Nikki was deliberately set ablaze by Vipin and his family after years of harassment and abuse over dowry demands. She also claimed that Nikki faced persistent dowry harassment despite her family having already given a Scorpio SUV, a motorcycle, and jewellery during the wedding in 2016. However, the family was allegedly pressured to provide an additional Rs 36 lakh and a luxury car.

The focus on the jewellery arises from the broader context of dowry demands, which Nikki's family claims were the primary motive for her murder. Her father detailed how his family had already provided a Scorpio SUV, motorcycle and gold jewellery during the wedding in 2016, but demands escalated. It is not clear based on the available information, who specifically took possession of Nikki's jewellery during or after the funeral.

The police are now revisiting the timeline of events and re-examining Kanchan's statements, as new evidence, including CCTV footage and video clips, has surfaced. One video purportedly shows Vipin outside the house around the time of the incident. Another video, believed to have been shot by Kanchan, captures a woman's voice asking Nikki, "What have you done?". Authorities are working to verify if the voice belongs to Kanchan.

Furthermore, an inflammable substance has been recovered from Nikki's room and sent for forensic analysis. A memo from the hospital where Nikki was initially admitted stated that she suffered "burns at home due to a cooking cylinder blast," further complicating the investigation.

Given these conflicting claims and emerging evidence, the question of the jewellery and the events surrounding Nikki's death remain under investigation.