Noida dowry murder victim Nikki Bhati's mother-in-law attempted to upset her marriage with Vipin Bhati, charged her father Bhikari Singh Payla. Payla revealed the couple had a dispute even five days before the fatal day, and he went to Vipin's house to talk compromise.
Payla alleged Vipin's mother, Dayavati, was the mastermind behind Nikki's murder. "It is the duty of the mother, as well as the father, to ensure the children stay together. But she, rather than making them stay together, upset their relationship," he told ANI.
Payla revealed Vipin's family was "gifted" a motorcycle, an SUV and gold as dowry during the couple's marriage in 2016. Nikki's father blamed social norms for offering dowry. Vipin and the in-laws wanted more and kept torturing her, Payla charged. Nikki's sister, Kanchan, was also married into the same family.
28-year-old Nikki was allegedly burnt to death on Thursday. Vipin was arrested by Noida police on Saturday after a video surfaced showing him assaulting Nikki. A second video showed Nikki, severely burnt, walking down a staircase before collapsing. Cops shot Vipin in the leg when he tried to escape from their custody.
Bhati's family allegedly demanded a dowry of ₹36 lakh from Nikki's family. Nikki's sister, Kanchan, was also married into the same family, and she was also assaulted by the family.
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Noida police have also arrested Vipin's mother Dayavati, father Satveer Bhati (55) and brother Rohit Bhati (28) in connection with Nikki's murder.
Noida police have registered against all four at Kasna Police Station on August 22 under sections 103(1) (murder), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), and 61(2) (attempting to commit offences punishable with life imprisonment or others) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, PTI reported.
Nikki's father demanded instant justice and urged Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to deliver 'instant justice' in the case. Payla said the chief minister should deliver "bulldozer justice" and raze down Vipin's house. He also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should intervene and ensure a death sentence for the accused.