The Greater Noida dowry death case has taken a new turn after fresh statements came to light. According to police sources, when 28-year-old Nikki Bhati was admitted to Fortis Hospital with severe burn injuries, she allegedly told doctors that she was injured in a fire caused by a gas cylinder blast at her in-laws’ house.

Both a doctor and a nurse later informed police about this statement. However, when police investigated the house, they found no signs of a cylinder explosion. Now, police are trying to find out whether Nikki gave that statement voluntarily or if she was pressured to say so.

Nikki had suffered nearly 80% burns and died last week while being shifted to Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. CCTV footage from Fortis Hospital showed that Nikki’s neighbour, Devendra, had driven the car that brought her to the hospital. In the car with her were her in-laws, her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and her brother-in-law Rohit.

Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, filed a complaint that led to an FIR against Nikki’s husband, Vipin, his parents, and his brother Rohit. According to Kanchan, Nikki was deliberately set on fire by her in-laws in front of her six-year-old son because the family was unhappy with the dowry given at the time of marriage. She alleged that even after her family had gifted an SUV and other valuables during the wedding, Nikki’s in-laws kept demanding more.

Kanchan also claimed she was present during the incident but could not save her sister. Both Nikki and Kanchan were married in 2016 to the same family, Nikki to Vipin, and Kanchan to Rohit. To add to the evidence, disturbing videos circulating on social media show Nikki being beaten and dragged by her hair by her in-laws. Police have already arrested Vipin, his parents, and Rohit.

On Sunday, while in custody, Vipin was shot in the leg after allegedly trying to escape from police. Investigations have further revealed that apart from dowry issues, tensions in the family also grew because Nikki and Kanchan were active on Instagram, making reels and running a beauty parlour, which reportedly angered their in-laws.