Noida Dowry Death: Husband Opposed Wife’s Instagram Reels, Parlour Business; Mother-in-Law Arrested

Fresh details have emerged in the shocking Noida dowry death case of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati, who was set ablaze allegedly by her husband Vipin Bhati. Investigators revealed that Vipin objected to Nikki’s posting of Instagram reels and her plans to reopen a beauty parlour she once ran.

On Sunday, Nikki’s mother-in-law Daya Bhati was arrested. Vipin, arrested a day earlier, has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

Key developments in the case:

• Husband’s objection to work and social media
  Police said Vipin admitted he was “strongly against” Nikki reopening her parlour and posting online content. On August 21, the couple had a heated argument after Nikki told him of her plan to resume her business. Hours later, she was set on fire at home. “In their family, posting reels on Instagram and running a parlour were not allowed,” SHO Dharmendra Shukla quoted Vipin as saying.

• Grisly details from interrogation
  Investigators said Vipin showed “no remorse” and fled to relatives’ homes after torching Nikki. A viral video also showed a man pouring a flammable liquid — reportedly thinner used in beauty parlours — on Nikki before setting her ablaze.

• Child witness testimony
  Nikki’s six-year-old son told police he saw his father pour liquid on her, slap her, and ignite her with a lighter.

• Sister’s allegations
  Nikki’s sister Kanchan, married into the same household, alleged her in-laws demanded ₹35 crore in dowry. She also claimed Nikki had been assaulted with blows to the head and acid thrown at her, though police confirmed only that Kanchan too was assaulted but spared as she was unwell.

• Social media presence
  Nikki and Kanchan co-ran an online beauty channel, Makeover by Kannchan, which has over 54,000 Instagram followers and 2.9 million views across platforms.

• History of dowry harassment
  Nikki’s brother Rohit Gurjar alleged her in-laws had demanded luxury cars and that she had returned to her parental home multiple times during her nine-year marriage due to dowry disputes.

Police have also booked Nikki’s father-in-law, brother-in-law Rohit Bhati, and mother-in-law Daya Bhati under dowry death charges.