Greater Noida Man Held for Setting Wife Ablaze Over Dowry; Accused Posted Suicide Claim Online

A 28-year-old man in Greater Noida has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife by setting her on fire over dowry demands, even as he suggested on social media that she had died by suicide.

The accused, identified as Vipin Bhati, was arrested on Friday, while his father Satyaveer Bhati and brother Rohit Bhati remain absconding, police said.

According to an NDTV report, Vipin posted on Instagram hours before his arrest, writing in Hindi: “Why didn’t you tell me what had happened? Why did you leave me? Why did you do this? The world is calling me a killer, Nikki.” He also shared a video of himself smiling with his wife and their son, adding: “I’m devastated. I’m left with nothing.”

Victim Succumbs to Burn Injuries

The victim, Nikki (28), died on Thursday after sustaining severe burn injuries. Police said she was doused with an inflammable liquid and set ablaze at their home in Greater Noida’s Sirsa. She died while being shifted from Fortis Hospital, Noida, to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi.

Family Alleges Torture, ₹36 Lakh Dowry Demand

The victim’s elder sister Kanchan, who is married to Vipin’s elder brother, alleged that both sisters had faced years of harassment for dowry since their marriages in 2016. She claimed the in-laws demanded ₹36 lakh and regularly assaulted them.

On Thursday, she said, Nikki was “brutally assaulted” in front of her and the children before being set on fire.
“They poured some liquid on her and set her ablaze in front of my eyes,” Kanchan said, adding that she too was assaulted earlier that day.

Nikki’s young son also told police that his mother was set ablaze with a lighter after being beaten.

Police have registered a case against Vipin, his parents, and his elder brother under dowry harassment and murder charges. Efforts are on to trace the absconding family members.