‘Cylinder Blast Caused Burns,’ Said Nikki in Dying Statement: Noida Dowry Death Probe Takes New Turn

The investigation into the Greater Noida dowry death case has taken another dramatic turn, with a doctor and a nurse from Fortis Hospital telling police that the victim, Nikki Bhati, claimed in her dying statement that she was injured in a cylinder blast. This new revelation directly contradicts the initial allegations by her family that she was deliberately set on fire by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands.

According to the statements recorded by the police, both the doctor and the nurse who attended to Nikki when she was first brought to the hospital said she was conscious and able to speak. The hospital’s official memo, written in Hindi, also documents this claim: “The patient has suffered severe burn injuries due to a gas cylinder explosion at home.”

This development adds another layer of complexity to a case already fraught with conflicting claims and viral videos. Nikki, 26, succumbed to 80% burn injuries last week while being transferred to Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi. Her husband, Vipin Bhati, his parents, and his brother Rohit have all been arrested based on a complaint filed by Nikki’s sister, Kanchan, who is married to Rohit.

Kanchan’s FIR alleges that Nikki was brutally beaten and set ablaze with a flammable liquid in front of her six-year-old son for not fulfilling persistent dowry demands. This narrative was supported by viral videos showing Nikki being assaulted and dragged by her hair. However, Nikki’s own reported statement to the medical staff now presents a completely different sequence of events.

Police are also examining CCTV footage from the hospital, which shows Nikki being brought in by a neighbour, accompanied by her in-laws. This challenges Kanchan’s claim that the in-laws had fled the scene after the incident. Investigators are now faced with the difficult task of reconciling these contradictory accounts as they seek to uncover the truth behind Nikki’s tragic death.