The shocking Greater Noida murder case of Nikki Bhati has taken a new twist. Earlier, Nikki’s family had accused her husband, Vipin, and his family of harassing her for dowry. But now, Nikki’s sister-in-law Meenakshi, who is separated from Nikki’s brother Rohit, has made serious claims against Nikki’s own father and brother. Speaking to the media, Meenakshi said that they, too, had harassed her for dowry, which added a new layer of controversy to the case.
What did Nikki’s sister-in-law Meenakshi claim?
Meenakshi, who married Nikki’s brother Rohit Payla in 2016, said that her family gave a Maruti Suzuki Ciaz car as dowry during the wedding. But her in-laws allegedly called the car “inauspicious” and sold it. She claimed they later demanded a new Scorpio SUV and cash, and when her family refused, they sent her back to her parents’ home.
She said her in-laws, including Nikki and another relative named Kanchan, physically abused her. “Nikki and Kanchan both used to beat me up,” she said. According to Meenakshi, they never allowed her to keep a mobile phone, and Rohit often stayed away from home for months.
Meenakshi said she had undergone the harassment for nine years but moved back to her parental home 14 months ago. She added that during a local panchayat, Nikki’s parents were told to pay her Rs. 35 lakh, but they never did.
“My in-laws used to beat me for dowry. I used to run away to my village. They never allowed me to keep a mobile phone. Rohit used to stay out of his home for three months. I spent nine years there, but for the last 14 months I have been at my own home. In a panchayat, my in-laws (deceased Nikki’s parents) were asked to pay Rs. 35 lakhs to me, but they never did. I never met Nikki’s in-laws…I want justice,” news agency ANI quoted Meenakshi as saying.
She also accused Rohit of assault and claimed he once fired a gun at her brother. On top of that, she alleged that she was forced to undergo two abortions.
Meenakshi has now demanded justice, saying she has suffered for years at the hands of her in-laws.
