Greater Noida dowry death: Mother-in-law arrested, husband sent to judicial custody
Nikki, married since 2016 and mother of a young son, was set ablaze over a Rs 36 lakh dowry demand; sister alleges sustained torture by in-laws
The mother-in-law of a woman, who was set ablaze in Greater Noida over a dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh, was arrested on Sunday, police said.
The victim's husband, Vipin Bhati, who was nabbed on Saturday, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. “He was chased and apprehended after being shot in the leg,” said a police officer.
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Bhati's mother, Dayavati, was arrested by the Kasna police team in connection with the case.
Video exposes torture
Bhati, a native of Sirsa village under Kasna Police Station limits, was arrested on Saturday after a disturbing video surfaced on social media showing him and another woman assaulting his wife, Nikki, and dragging her by the hair.
Another clip showed Nikki, severely burnt, walking down a staircase before collapsing. She succumbed to burns while being taken to a hospital Thursday night.
Nikki's elder sister, Kanchan, who is married in the same family, recorded a video of the attack and accused Bhati and his family members of killing her sister for dowry.
"We were beaten and tortured for days. They were demanding Rs 36 lakh. They hit her on the neck and head, threw acid, and set her on fire in front of her child," Kanchan told reporters. She said she, too, was assaulted when she tried to intervene.
Husband, in-laws booked
Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhir Kumar had on Friday said that police got a call from Fortis Hospital informing them that a woman with burn injuries had been admitted and was referred to Safdarjung Hospital.
"Police immediately left for Safdarjung Hospital, but the woman succumbed to her injuries before the team could reach the hospital," he said.
Also read | Noida dowry murder accused shot in leg while trying to flee: Police
Kanchan said their in-laws wanted her sister to go away so that Vipin could be remarried. "They slapped me. I was injured and unconscious the entire day." Nikki was cremated by her family members.
Based on Kanchan's complaint, a case was registered against Nikki's husband, Bhati, and his family at Kasna Police Station.
Nikki married Vipin in 2016 and the couple has a son.
(With agency inputs)