Mystery shrouds Nikki Bhati’s final hours: Noida police chase shifting storylines in ‘dowry murder’ — Inflammable substance, fresh video or LPG cylinder blast | Noida News

NEW DELHI: Police in Noida are re-examining the death of 26-year-old Nikki Bhati after doctors said she had told them she suffered burns in a gas cylinder blast – a statement that contradicts her sister’s allegations that Nikki was deliberately set on fire by her husband and in-laws. Nikki died on 21 August from severe burn injuries at her home in Sirsa village, Greater Noida. While her family alleges she was killed following years of dowry harassment, a hospital memo records her own statement that she was injured in a cylinder explosion. Police say fresh evidence, including inflammable material found in Nikki’s room and multiple video clips surfacing on social media, has prompted them to revisit the timeline of events.The new findings seem to mark a shift from earlier allegations that Nikki was set on fire with a flammable liquid by her husband Vipin Bhati and his family. One clip reportedly shows Nikki’s mother-in-law separating her from her husband Vipin during a fight, while another records a voice saying, “Yeh kya kar liya?” (What have you done?). A senior officer told reporters the inflammable substance has been sent for forensic testing. CCTV footage showing Vipin outside his home shortly before the incident is also being analysed. Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, who is married to Vipin’s brother Rohit, filed the first complaint. She alleged that Nikki was beaten and then set ablaze by Vipin, his parents and his brother over dowry demands. Kanchan also claimed she tried to intervene and filmed part of the incident. Police have so far arrested Vipin, Rohit, and Nikki’s parents-in-law. Vipin was shot in the leg on 24 August while allegedly attempting to escape police custody.The case has also drawn attention to Vipin’s past. Police confirmed he was named in a separate assault case last year, in which a young woman accused him of attacking her and stealing her phone. The Bhati family denies the dowry harassment charges. Vipin’s cousin Devendra, who took Nikki to hospital, has said she complained of suffocation and asked for water, while insisting Vipin was at a nearby shop when the fire broke out. The FIR against the accused was registered under murder and dowry harassment charges. Investigators say they are collating witness statements and forensic reports before drawing conclusions.