Noida dowry death: Third arrest as brother-in-law held after husband shot in police encounter
Witness videos, a child's testimony, and a late-night chase: how the Noida case unfolded
A 26-year-old woman, Nikki Bhati, died of severe burns after being set on fire at her marital home in Greater Noida, according to police. The case — which officers and the family say was driven by years of dowry harassment — has led to three arrests and a dramatic police encounter. It has also added to growing public anger over persistent violence against women tied to dowry demands. The Noida dowry death is now under tight scrutiny, with video clips, a child’s statement, and forensic evidence at the center of the investigation.
Police say Nikki had faced pressure for years after her 2016 marriage. Her in-laws allegedly demanded Rs 35 lakh and a car. Despite the family giving a car, a motorcycle, and gold at and after the wedding, the demands continued. On the day of the attack, two disturbing videos were recorded: one shows husband Vipin Bhati dragging Nikki by the hair while his mother, Daya, hits her; another shows Nikki walking down the stairs engulfed in flames. Nikki’s sister Kanchan — married to Vipin’s brother Rohit — managed to record part of the assault before collapsing, according to the family.
Nikki’s young son witnessed the incident and told investigators that his father set his mother on fire after putting “something” on her and slapping her. Police have recorded the child’s statement and say they will present it before a magistrate. Officers also informed child welfare authorities to ensure counseling and support for the boy during the legal process.
Nikki was rushed to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital with about 70 percent burns, where she later died. Her father, Bikhari Singh Payla, says she had twice returned to her parental home because of abuse but was pressured to reconcile. He is seeking the death penalty for the accused, calling them “butchers.”
The arrest sequence moved quickly. Police first detained Vipin and took him to the crime scene to recover the flammable substance used in the attack. During that visit, officers say he grabbed a sub-inspector’s pistol and fired. They shot him in the leg and overpowered him. Vipin was treated in hospital and then sent to 14-day judicial custody. He has denied killing his wife, telling officers, “I didn’t kill her. She died on her own,” and claimed the abuse was “common” between spouses.
After Vipin, police arrested his mother, Daya, as the second accused. The third arrest was Rohit, Nikki’s brother-in-law and Kanchan’s husband, for his alleged role in dowry harassment tied to the wider family’s demands. Investigators say both sisters had faced pressure for money, with total demands reaching Rs 36 lakh.
Officers are building a case around multiple layers of evidence. The two videos, reportedly recorded at the scene, are being examined for authenticity and sequence. A forensic team collected a lighter, burnt cloth, and residue from the house to determine what accelerant — if any — was used. Investigators are also pulling call detail records and messages to map out harassment and money-related conversations. Statements from neighbors and extended family are being recorded under Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure Code, and key witnesses, including the child, may have statements recorded before a magistrate under Section 164.
Police say the case involves sections related to murder and cruelty for dowry under the Indian Penal Code, along with the Dowry Prohibition Act. Because the marriage is older than seven years, investigators are not relying on the dowry-death presumption that applies within that window; instead, they are focusing on direct evidence, intent, and conspiracy. If forensic findings and digital evidence align with the videos and the child’s account, prosecutors will likely push for charges that carry maximum penalties.
Safdarjung Hospital has provided the medical records detailing the burn injuries and resuscitation efforts; a post-mortem report will establish exact cause of death and may indicate the presence of accelerants. Police say they will file a chargesheet within the statutory period, and could move a special court to fast-track the trial given the nature of the crime and the availability of video evidence.
The case has spotlighted the grim numbers behind such violence. NCRB data for 2022 recorded 6,673 dowry deaths across India, with Uttar Pradesh reporting the highest share. Activists point out that conviction rates remain uneven and many cases hinge on the quality of early evidence collection, medical documentation, and timely witness protection — all issues now in focus in Greater Noida.
Local officers say they have contacted women’s helplines and are coordinating with the district’s child welfare committee for the minor’s safety. The family has requested protection, saying they fear intimidation. Police presence has been stepped up around the victim’s parental home while teams complete the crime-scene reconstruction.
Vipin’s alleged attempt to escape custody by snatching a service weapon has also drawn attention. Police maintain the encounter was by the book and has been logged as per protocol. The defense may challenge that incident in court, but for now, the hospital report confirms a bullet injury to Vipin’s leg and his fit condition for judicial custody.
What happens next will turn on the quality of the forensic trail. If chemical analysis confirms an accelerant and the videos are verified frame by frame, prosecutors will have a strong narrative that ties motive, method, and malice. The child’s statement — recorded with counselors present — may become a key piece of the puzzle, provided the court is satisfied with the safeguards used to avoid coaching or pressure.
Nikki’s family says they will pursue the case to the end and want a maximum sentence for all involved. Police teams continue to question extended relatives about money demands, gifts made over the years, and any transfers that can be tracked. Investigators are also looking at whether household items given at marriage were retained or misappropriated, which could add a criminal breach of trust charge to the list.
Broader context, and what to watch in the legal process
Courts in similar cases look closely at a clear chain of custody for videos, consistent medical and forensic records, and witness statements free of contradictions. Any delay in recording statements or collecting residues at the scene can weaken the case. Here, early video capture by a family member, seizure of physical evidence, and a prompt medico-legal trail from Safdarjung give investigators a head start.
Expect the defense to question the videos’ authenticity, the child’s ability to recall, and the reliability of any single eyewitness. They may argue accidental fire or self-harm, and point to gaps in timelines. The prosecution, on the other hand, will try to align digital footprints, physical evidence, and prior complaints to show a pattern of cruelty linked to money demands.
For now, three arrests — husband Vipin, mother-in-law Daya, and brother-in-law Rohit — mark the first phase. The chargesheet will reveal how tightly investigators have woven motive with material proof. If the court allows, the trial could be fast-tracked, but a verdict will still depend on how well the state can keep witnesses safe, evidence intact, and the story consistent from the first report to the witness box.