Greater Noida Dowry Death Twist: Dying Statement Points to Cylinder Blast, Not Burning by In-Laws

Greater Noida: The sensational dowry death case of 26-year-old Nikki Bhati has taken a dramatic turn after fresh revelations emerged from Fortis Hospital staff. According to police sources, both a doctor and a nurse who treated Nikki claimed in their statements that she had told them she sustained burn injuries due to a cylinder explosion at her in-laws’ home, not because she was set ablaze.

This statement, reportedly made when Nikki was still conscious, directly contrasts with the FIR registered on the complaint of her sister Kanchan, who accused Nikki’s husband Vipin Bhati, his parents, and brother Rohit of pouring a flammable liquid on her and burning her alive over dowry demands.

Nikki, who had suffered nearly 80% burns, succumbed last week while being shifted from Greater Noida to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. CCTV footage examined by police shows Nikki being brought to Fortis by her neighbour Devendra, along with her in-laws, which investigators say complicates the narrative further.

Despite these claims, the FIR alleges a brutal crime: Nikki was doused in front of her six-year-old son and set on fire for not meeting fresh dowry demands, despite her family already giving an SUV and valuables at the time of marriage. Social media videos that surfaced later show Nikki being dragged and assaulted by her in-laws, deepening suspicions of prolonged domestic abuse.

Adding to the complexity, police revealed that Vipin was shot in the leg while allegedly trying to flee custody on Sunday. He, along with his parents and brother Rohit—who is married to Nikki’s sister Kanchan—remains in jail.

Investigators are also looking into reports of long-standing tensions within the household, fueled not only by dowry disputes but also arguments over Nikki and her sister making Instagram reels and running a beauty parlour, which reportedly angered the in-laws.