The brutal murder of 26-year-old Nikki Bhati, burnt alive in her matrimonial home in Noida allegedly over dowry demands, has reopened a window into her husband’s violent past. Nikki’s husband, Vipin Bhati was already named in a 2024 case of assault and exploitation filed by another woman in an episode that also involved Nikki herself.
A woman had registered an FIR at Jarcha Police Station in Greater Noida in October 2024, accusing Vipin of assault and exploitation. According to sources, Vipin was then in a relationship with the complainant, despite being married to Nikki.
The matter escalated when Nikki and her sister caught Vipin and the woman “red-handed”. In an attempt to prove his innocence, Vipin allegedly beat the woman, after which she filed an FIR against him.
The Present Case
On August 21, Nikki was beaten, doused with a flammable substance and set on fire inside her home in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village. She died en route to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital after sustaining 70 per cent burns.
Her husband Vipin, his mother Daya, father Satveer, and brother Rohit have all been arrested. Vipin was shot in the leg during what police described as an attempted escape while in custody. His mother was arrested a day later, and his father and brother were tracked down near Sirsa Toll Chauraha.
Neighbours Recall Disputes
In Sirsa village, where the killing took place, neighbours described longstanding disputes within the Bhati household.
Both Nikki and her sister Kanchan, who is married to Vipin’s brother Rohit, ran a beauty parlour and were active on Instagram. They frequently posted makeover reels, which their husbands objected to.
“They both used to make reels related to the makeover and would share them on social media. But both Rohit and Vipin did not like it and used to object,” a neighbour said.
Rishab, another resident, recalled that the issue once escalated into a village panchayat.
“After that, both the sisters went to their parental home. But after the decision of the panchayat, both the sisters came back to their in-laws’ house on March 18,” he said.