The father of Nikki Bhati, a 28-year-old woman allegedly murdered by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands, is seeking extreme justice in the form of an "encounter" killing of the accused. Nikki died after allegedly being set on fire by her husband, Vipin Bhati, and his family in Sirsa village, Greater Noida. The horrific incident, a culmination of years of alleged dowry harassment, occurred in front of her seven-year-old son.
Nikki's family claims that the abuse began shortly after her marriage to Vipin in December 2016. Although no dowry was initially exchanged, her in-laws soon began demanding ₹35 lakh. Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, who is married into the same family, revealed that both sisters were subjected to torture for dowry. Kanchan reported that the family had already given a car but the demands and harassment continued. "They hit her in her neck and head, threw acid, and carried out atrocities against us," Kanchan stated.
According to Nikki’s sister, on the night of August 21, 2025, Nikki was beaten unconscious and then set on fire by her husband and in-laws. Nikki's six-year-old son witnessed the ghastly act, telling neighbors that his father and grandmother poured a substance on his mother, slapped her, and then set her ablaze with a lighter. Two videos of the incident have surfaced, one showing a man and woman assaulting Nikki and dragging her out of the house by her hair, and another showing her limping down the stairs while on fire. Nikki was rushed to Fortis Hospital in Noida with severe burns and later referred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi, but she died en route.
Vipin Bhati has been arrested, and a case has been registered against him, his parents, Daya and Satyaveer, and his brother, Rohit. He has been charged with murder, criminal conspiracy, and voluntarily causing hurt. Police are currently searching for the absconding relatives.
Adding a disturbing layer to the case, an Instagram post by Vipin surfaced after the incident, suggesting that Nikki had died by suicide. The post, featuring a video of him smiling with Nikki and their son, read, "Why did you leave me? The world is calling me a killer, Nikki". Police have dismissed this as an attempt to mislead the investigation and deflect blame.
The incident has sparked outrage and protests in Sirsa village, with residents demanding strict punishment for the accused. Nikki’s father has appealed to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, demanding that the accused be shot dead in an encounter and their house be razed.
This case highlights the persistent issue of dowry-related violence in India, where thousands of women are killed or subjected to violence each year. Despite legal safeguards, dowry-related harassment and deaths remain alarmingly common. In July 2025, another case emerged from Uttar Pradesh where a 24-year-old woman in Baghpat district died by suicide after allegedly being harassed for dowry. She left a suicide note and video detailing the abuse she faced. In Rampur, a man paraded his 8-month-old son upside down in the village to pressure his wife’s family for dowry. These incidents underscore the urgent need for stricter enforcement of anti-dowry laws and a change in societal attitudes towards this heinous practice.
