Greater Noida Dowry Death Case: Nikki’s Sister-in-Law Alleges Harassment, Dowry Demands

Noida : In a fresh twist to the high-profile Greater Noida dowry death case, Nikki Bhati’s sister-in-law, Meenakshi, has alleged that she faced physical assault and humiliation from Nikki’s family over dowry demands.

Meenakshi, who married Nikki’s elder brother Rohit in 2016, claimed she faced harassment from day one. She alleged that Rohit, her mother-in-law, Nikki, and Kanchan physically assaulted her, restricted her from keeping a phone, and forbade her from speaking to anyone.

Speaking from her parents’ home in Palla village, Dadri, 31-year-old Meenakshi said she “could not live peacefully for a single day” at her in-laws’ house. She stayed there for only six months before returning to her father’s home.

“They used to beat me and demand cash. My father gave them a Ciaz car and gold for the wedding, but they demanded a Scorpio SUV and additional cash,” Meenakshi alleged.
“Both sisters would taunt me, saying Rohit didn’t like me and would get remarried,” she added.

In 2020, after an alleged assault, a case was registered against Rohit and his family. A village panchayat recommended returning Rs 35 lakh spent on Meenakshi’s wedding, either to facilitate her remarriage or accept her back as a daughter-in-law.

Meenakshi’s mother supported her claims, saying Rohit’s family tortured her daughter. Intervention by Nikki’s father-in-law, Satveer Singh, reportedly prevented the conflict from escalating, assuring the use of his rapport with Nikki’s father, Bhikhari Singh, to resolve the matter.

Nikki Bhati’s Death and Investigation

Nikki, 26, was found with severe burns at her Sirsa village home on August 21 and later died en route to a Delhi hospital. Her husband Vipin Bhati, his parents Satveer and Daya, and brother Rohit have been arrested in connection with her dowry death. Vipin was shot in the leg by police on August 24 after allegedly attempting to escape custody.

The FIR, filed by Kanchan, alleges that Nikki was beaten, doused with a flammable liquid, and set ablaze after persistent dowry harassment. Kanchan claimed that Nikki’s family had already provided a Scorpio SUV, a motorcycle, and jewellery during her wedding in 2016, but were being pressed for Rs 36 lakh and a luxury car.

Police investigations have uncovered flammable substances in Nikki’s room and video clips, including one showing Daya trying to separate Nikki and Vipin during a fight. A memo from the hospital where Nikki was first admitted stated she suffered burns in a gas cylinder explosion, while Vipin’s cousin claimed she repeatedly asked for water, saying she felt suffocated.

Nikki and Kanchan’s father, Bhikhari Singh, demanded the harshest punishment for Vipin and appealed to PM Narendra Modi and UP CM Yogi Adityanath for intervention. He rejected claims that his daughters’ social media activity triggered the incident, stating he had helped them open a beauty parlour to support themselves.

Police have recorded about a dozen statements and are examining multiple leads, including CCTV footage showing Vipin outside his home shortly before the incident. They are also probing a separate assault case filed against Vipin last October by a 21-year-old woman from Anandpur village.

The FIR is registered under sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 61(2) (attempt to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.