Noida dowry murder: Nikki Bhati's sister-in-law accuses her family of dowry harassment

Deceased Nikki Bhati's family had accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment, but now a similar accusation has emerged against her own family.

Nikki Bhati's family had accused her husband and in-laws of dowry harassment, but now a similar accusation has emerged against her own family.

Rohit and Minakshi got married in 2016. Minakshi, who hails from Palla village, has claimed that her family had given a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz as dowry then, but her in-laws had sold it, calling it "inauspicious."

The Paylas, family of Nikki Bhati, had then demanded a new model of Scorpio SUV and cash, Minakshi's family claimed.

On being denied, Minakshi alleged that her in-laws sent her back to her parents' house.

The matter was taken to the village panchayat, where it was reportedly advised that either Rs 35 lakh (the amount spent on their wedding) be returned to Minakshi's family so that she could be remarried, or that the husband's family accept her back as their daughter-in-law.

The dispute remained unresolved, with Minakshi alleging that Nikki's father, Bhikhari Singh Payla, and other family members never accepted her.

Satyavir Singh, the arrested father-in-law of Nikki Bhati, had apparently assured Minakshi's father that he would use their personal rapport to ensure Bhikhari Singh Payla pays him back.

He is also said to have intervened multiple times in Minakshi's case and urged Mr Payla to settle the issue.

The new allegations add a fresh dimension to the ongoing investigation into Nikki Bhati's death, raising questions over the long-standing dowry disputes despite it being an illegal practice across the country.

Nikki was allegedly killed on the night of Thursday, August 21, and her sister Kanchan, who is also married into the same family living in Greater Noida's Sirsa village, had claimed that she was set ablaze by her husband Vipin and other in-laws.

Nikki's family lodged a case accusing her husband, Vipin, Kanchan's husband Rohit, her father-in-law, and her mother-in-law of killing her by setting her ablaze.

Vipin, Rohit, and their parents have all been arrested, and Vipin was shot in the leg after he tried to snatch a policeman's pistol.

A video had emerged last week showing Vipin and another woman pulling her by the hair.

Vipin was not wearing a shirt, and blood could be seen on his stomach and back.

In other clips, Nikki could be seen hobbling down the stairs while on fire and then sitting on the floor, her extensive burn injuries clearly visible.