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Official sources said an inflammable solution was recovered from Nikki Bhati’s room and it has been sent for forensic evaluation
Nikki Bhati was allegedly beaten, doused with a flammable liquid, and set on fire over dowry on August 21. (Image: News18)
In a major development in the Greater Noida dowry death case, evidence has emerged that Nikki Bhati may have set herself ablaze as the recovery of inflammable items from her room raised questions on the direction of the probe so far.
Police are now looking at new angles and scanning CCTV footage as well as videos that have surfaced after the initial questioning and recording of statements as part of the probe. They will most likely be thoroughly revisiting the timeline in the case, official sources said.
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According to official sources, an inflammable solution was recovered from Nikki’s room that may indicate that this is a case of self-immolation. The solution has been sent for forensic evaluation, the sources said.
On August 21, 26-year-old Nikki was allegedly beaten, doused with a flammable liquid, and set on fire over dowry by her husband Vipin Bhati and in-laws at their Sirsa home. She succumbed to her injuries while being taken to a hospital in Delhi. There are disturbing videos of her final moments, including one showing her engulfed in flames, reportedly filmed by her elder sister Kanchan.
The sources said even though Kanchan’s statement was recorded, she is yet to be questioned about the video she reportedly filmed in which a voice can be heard saying: “Yeh kya kar liya (what have you done)?” Police will re-examine her previous statement as well.
They said the video surfaced after initial questioning and a total of 10 to 12 statements have been recorded from both sides of the family.
Here are the developments in the case:
- Inflammable solution recovered from Nikki’s room.
- Kanchan’s statement to be re-examined after the video she reportedly filmed of the incident went viral.
- Another video has surfaced where Nikki’s mother-in-law can be seen separating her from Vipin as the two are seen fighting. It was previously alleged that both mother-in-law and husband were assaulting Nikki.
- Vipin was seen standing outside his home on the day of the incident, as per CCTV footage.
SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
The sources said Vipin’s father and other family members attended Nikki’s cremation. After the incident, she was taken to hospital and her body handed over to the family following an autopsy, they said.
They said the cremation took place early in the morning a day after the incident, and both sides of the family were present. It was only after this that Nikki’s family members lodged the complaint and an FIR was registered, they added.
Before this, the sources said, the videos of assault and the one in which Nikki can be seen on fire surfaced. Her family also staged protests demanding arrests of the culprits.
Vipin, his parents Satveer and Daya, and brother Rohit have been arrested in the case. Vipin was shot in the leg on Sunday while he was allegedly attempting to escape police custody.
WAS VIPIN OUTSIDE HIS HOME ON DAY OF NIKKI’S DEATH?
Vipin was purportedly spotted in CCTV footage, standing at a shop near his home in Greater Noida’s Sirsa village on the day Nikki died.
This footage from outside a shop near the Bhati family’s home shows a youth, who local residents claimed was Vipin, standing behind a car and then suddenly running. Moments later, he returns and hurries towards the car parked nearby. Soon after, an elderly man and several local residents are seen rushing toward the Bhatis’ residence, while women from the neighbourhood appear visibly panicked.
Police said the video has been taken into account in the ongoing investigation and stressed that conclusions will be drawn only after verifying all facts.
“It is a part of our investigation. Whatever facts come out, action will be taken accordingly. The investigation will cover all possible angles and suitable action will follow upon its completion,” additional deputy commissioner of police (Greater Noida) Sudheer Kumar told PTI.
Police are yet to ascertain the authenticity of the video.
WHAT ARE THE ALLEGATIONS?
Nikki’s relatives have alleged that she was tortured for dowry since her marriage to Vipin in 2016. They said they had already given a Scorpio SUV, motorcycle, and jewellery but were later pressured for Rs 36 lakh in cash and a luxury car.
The Bhati family’s neighbours in Sirsa village also pointed to domestic tensions over Nikki and her sister’s social media activities, but her family has dismissed these claims insisting that dowry harassment was the sole reason behind the incident.
The FIR in the case was registered at Kasna police station on August 22 under sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt) and 61(2) (attempt to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
About the Author
Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i…Read More
Anvit Srivastava, Principal Correspondent at CNN-News18, covers crime, security, policing and society in Delhi. His impactful ground reports have helped him make his mark among the select credited journalists i… Read More
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Greater Noida, India, India
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