Tue Aug 26 07:32:17 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Noida Woman Burned Alive Over Dowry Demands; Husband Accused of Past Assault**
**Greater Noida, India** – A 26-year-old woman, Nikki Bhati, was brutally murdered in her home in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village on August 21, allegedly over dowry demands. Bhati was beaten, doused in a flammable substance, and set on fire, sustaining 70% burns. She died en route to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.
Police have arrested Bhati’s husband, Vipin Bhati, along with his mother, father, and brother. Vipin was shot in the leg during an alleged escape attempt while in custody. Shocking video footage, captured by Bhati’s sister, has surfaced online, showing Nikki being dragged by her hair and later engulfed in flames.
Neighbors reported frequent disputes within the Bhati household, particularly regarding Nikki and her sister’s social media activity as beauty influencers. However, Bhati’s family vehemently denies that social media was a factor, insisting that dowry harassment was the sole cause of her death.
According to Bhati’s father, the family had already provided a dowry of a Scorpio SUV, motorcycle, and gold jewelry at the time of the wedding in 2016, but demands escalated to include Rs 36 lakh in cash and a luxury car. He admitted to giving his daughter cash over the years in an attempt to maintain peace in the household.
Adding another layer to the case, Vipin Bhati was already implicated in a 2024 assault and exploitation case filed by another woman. The victim reported to the police that Vipin was in a relationship with her despite being married to Nikki and the situation escalated after Nikki and her sister caught Vipin with the woman, after which he allegedly beat the woman.
This latest tragedy has sparked outrage and reignited discussions about dowry-related violence in India. The investigation is ongoing.
First Piper 