Nation

IIE DIGITAL DESK : The investigation into the alleged dowry-related death of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati in Greater Noida unfolds, new information has emerged linking her accused husband, Vipin Bhati, to a previous assault case in 2024. According to police at Jarcha Police Station, an FIR was filed against Vipin after he was found in a compromising situation with another woman. The specifics remain unclear, but authorities confirmed the registration of an assault complaint. 

Nikki’s tragic death on August 21 in Sirsa village under Noida's Kasna jurisdiction has brought renewed scrutiny to both her marriage and Vipin’s past behavior. Nikki was allegedly set ablaze by Vipin and other family members following months of alleged dowry harassment, including demands for ₹35–36 lakh. Video footage circulated online—shared by Nikki’s sister—depicts scenes of assault and Nikki being engulfed in flames, sparking nationwide outrage. 

Police have since arrested four members of the Bhati family: Vipin, his mother Daya, his brother Rohit, and his father Satyaveer—all remanded to 14 days of judicial custody. 

Nikki and her sister, Kanchan, married into the same family in 2016. Though they initially faced no dowry, over time the in-laws allegedly began demanding substantial sums. The sisters reportedly endured physical abuse, emotional manipulation, and restrictions—Nikki’s desire to reopen a beauty parlour and her active presence on Instagram reportedly became flashpoints. 

On August 21, a confrontation over Nikki’s wish to restart her business escalated into a brutal attack—Vipin allegedly doused her with a flammable substance and set her on fire. She succumbed to her injuries shortly after being shifted to a hospital in Delhi. 

Amid the flurry of evidence, a purported CCTV clip emerged showing a man resembling Vipin standing outside his home around the time of the incident. The footage is circulating on social media but has not been officially verified by authorities, who say it’s too early to confirm its authenticity. 

Hours before his arrest, Vipin posted on Instagram, suggesting Nikki’s death was a suicide—an attempt to mislead public sentiment. When apprehended, he told reporters that Nikki died “on her own,” dismissed spousal abuse as common, and appeared unremorseful.

The brutality of the case is underscored by the statement of Nikki’s six-year-old son, who witnessed the attack. He recounted how his mother was assaulted, doused with liquid, beaten, and set on fire with a lighter. 

The resurfaced 2024 FIR against Vipin Bhati for being “caught with a girl”—allegedly involving assault—adds to an unsettling picture of his past conduct and potential pattern of aggression. This background contextualizes the tragic sequences leading to Nikki’s murder, enriching the understanding of the marital discord and coercive control she lived under.

As the case advances, the judiciary and community will closely watch how evidence—from eyewitness video to social media posts—shape both legal accountability and societal reckoning on dowry violence and familial abuse.