In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across the nation, Vipin Bhati, the prime accused in the horrific dowry murder of his wife Nikki Bhati, was shot in the leg by police during an attempted escape on Sunday afternoon, just hours after the victim's father publicly demanded an encounter killing.
The case that has gripped national attention began on Thursday evening when 28-year-old Nikki Bhati was brutally assaulted and set on fire by her husband and in-laws at their Greater Noida home. The young mother, who ran a beauty parlour to support her six-year-old son, died during treatment at Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, succumbing to severe burn injuries.
What makes this case particularly chilling are the video recordings captured by Nikki's sister-in-law, Kanchan, who witnessed the horrific crime. The disturbing footage shows Vipin Bhati and his mother Daya mercilessly assaulting Nikki before setting her ablaze. Another heart-wrenching clip captures a burning Nikki stumbling down a staircase in her final moments.
According to police investigations and family testimonies, the brutal murder was the culmination of relentless dowry harassment. Despite the victim's family meeting multiple demands over the years, the accused family's greed remained insatiable.
The dowry timeline reveals a pattern of escalating demands:
December 2016: Marriage ceremony where the bride's family gifted a top-model Scorpio SUV, Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycle, cash, and gold
Ongoing: Regular gifts during festivals like Karwa Chauth
Recent: Demand for the victim's father's newly purchased Mercedes car
Kanchan, Nikki's sister who married Vipin's brother Rohit, revealed the extent of the family's harassment: "Our parents did all they could, but the in-laws were not happy. They kept criticising. They would say the clothes gifted by my parents cost Rs 2."
In a passionate interview with NDTV on Sunday morning, victim's father Bhikari Singh Payla made an emotional plea for justice that would prove prophetic. "They are killers, they should be shot, their home razed. My daughter was bringing up her son by running a parlour. They tortured her. The whole family was involved in the conspiracy, and they killed my daughter," he declared.
Payla also made a direct appeal to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath: "They shoot pickpockets in the leg, and they won't kill these murderers? This is a BJP government."
The case took a dramatic turn on Sunday afternoon when police took Vipin Bhati to his residence to recover the bottle containing the flammable liquid used in the crime. According to Senior Police Officer Sudhir Kumar, the accused made a desperate bid for freedom.
"He snatched a cop's pistol and opened fire. In retaliatory firing, he suffered a bullet injury in his leg," Kumar explained to the media.
The encounter occurred near the Sirsa roundabout in Greater Noida, where police shot Bhati in the leg during the chase. Even after being hospitalized, the accused showed no remorse, telling news agency ANI: "I have not done anything. She died on her own. Fights between husband and wife happen everywhere. It is not a big deal."
Perhaps the most devastating aspect of this case is the testimony of Nikki and Vipin's six-year-old son, who witnessed his mother's torture and murder. The traumatized child's words paint a horrific picture: "They first put something on Mumma. Then they slapped her, before setting her on fire with a lighter."
The case reveals a disturbing pattern of abuse within the family. Both sisters, Nikki and Kanchan, married brothers Vipin and Rohit respectively on December 10, 2016, only to face years of torture and harassment.
Kanchan, who tried desperately to save her sister, described their ordeal: "They would spend time with other women, and when we confronted them, they would hit us. Our nights were spent crying. Nothing is left now, my sister is gone. She was about two-three years younger than me, but people thought we were twins."
The sisters had established a makeup studio to earn their livelihood, but even this independence was met with resistance. "They would take all our earnings. We were beaten up over this. If I had not shot this video, nobody would know how my sister died. I poured water, tried to save her, but fainted midway," Kanchan revealed.
While Vipin Bhati remains in custody after the encounter, three other accused family members are still on the run:
Daya Bhati (Mother-in-law) - Prime conspirator seen in assault videos
Satyavir Bhati (Father-in-law) - Accused of conspiracy
Rohit Bhati (Brother-in-law and Kanchan's husband) - Involved in systematic harassment
A police case has been registered against all four family members under relevant sections of dowry death and murder.
Following news of Vipin's shooting, victim's father Bhikari Singh Payla expressed satisfaction but demanded more severe action: "I am happy. Such people should be shot or hanged. He should have been shot in the chest. Those on the run should be hanged."
This case has reignited national debates about dowry-related violence in India and the need for stricter enforcement of anti-dowry laws. The availability of video evidence and the victim's six-year-old son's testimony have made this case particularly compelling for justice advocates across the country.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that despite legal protections, dowry-related violence continues to claim lives, with women often trapped in cycles of abuse that end in tragedy.
As the manhunt for the remaining accused continues, this case stands as a testament to both the persistence of this social evil and the urgent need for societal change to protect vulnerable women from such horrific crimes.