Greater Noida dowry death: ‘In-laws set Nikki on fire, left the house’, says sister

Moments earlier, Kanchan had allegedly overheard a heated exchange between Nikki and her husband, Vipin Bhati. She told the police that she also saw their mother-in-law enter the room and heard her shouting at Nikki.

Sister’s statement among key evidence

Kanchan’s statement, now included in the police chargesheet, is among the key evidence being relied upon by the prosecution, The Indian Express has learnt. Four members of the Bhati family — Nikki’s husband, his father Satveer, his mother Daya, and his elder brother Rohit — are facing allegations of murder and criminal conspiracy.

“While she was burning, all of them left the house one by one. I was crying and wailing alone,” Kanchan told the police, it is learnt.

“In my sister Nikki’s death, my husband Rohit and my father-in-law Satveer are equally involved. When Vipin and my mother-in-law burnt my sister, Rohit and Satveer were present, but they did nothing to save her,” Kanchan told the police, it is learnt.

According to the police probe, it is learnt, Kanchan recounted that she heard her sister crying in distress. When she rushed out, she allegedly saw Nikki coming down the staircase engulfed in flames. She tried to put out the fire by sprinkling water from a bowl, but the flames did not subside, the police probe has found.

Sources said that Kanchan has alleged that Vipin was involved with another woman and showed little regard for Nikki. The probe also found out that according to Kanchan, this alleged relationship had previously led to a major altercation between the families.

The probe further states that Kanchan was aware Nikki had been sleeping on a mattress on the floor and that the couple had been sleeping separately in the days leading up to the incident. She told police the pair had been embroiled in disputes and disagreements.

Nikki died on August 21 after suffering burn injuries. Her father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband were arrested following a complaint filed by Kanchan, who is married to Rohit.

Here are the key points

• Sister says she saw Nikki stumbling down the stairs, engulfed in fire. In a video that the sister recorded, Nikki can be seen burning
• Sister had overheard a heated exchange between Nikki and her husband; heard mother-in-law shout at Nikki
• Sister says her husband and father-in-law are equally involved in Nikki’s death