Explosive twist in Nikki Bhati case: Brother’s estranged wife accuses family of dowry harassment - 'Sold Ciaz, demanded Scorpio'

Nikki Bhati

A fresh and explosive allegation has emerged in the Noida dowry death case, turning the spotlight onto the family of the victim, Nikki Bhati. According to an NDTV report, the Payla family, who had accused Nikki’s in-laws of her horrific murder, now face a near-identical accusation of dowry harassment from their own former daughter-in-law.

The new claims, detailed by NDTV, come from Minakshi, the estranged wife of Nikki’s brother, Rohit Payla. Minakshi alleges that after her marriage to Rohit in 2016, her in-laws sold the Maruti Suzuki Ciaz given as part of her dowry, branding it "inauspicious." Her family claims the Paylas then demanded a new Scorpio SUV and cash. When this was refused, Minakshi alleges she was sent back to her parents' house.

The dispute was reportedly taken to a village panchayat, which suggested either a return of the Rs 35 lakh spent on the wedding to allow Minakshi to remarry, or that the Payla family accept her back. The matter was never resolved. Minakshi reportedly said that Nikki’s father, Bhikhari Singh Payla, and other family members never accepted her.

When confronted over the allegations, Rohit Payla refused to comment, as per NDTV, saying, "I don't want to speak on this matter. These are mere allegations." However, a person from his side defended the family, claiming the issue had escalated to the point where "guns were drawn," and added, "Fights happen in every house. At least we did not burn the girl."

The new allegations introduce a complex layer to the investigation into Nikki’s death. Intriguingly, as reported by NDTV, it was Satyavir Singh – Nikki’s father-in-law and one of the men arrested for her murder, who had apparently intervened in Minakshi’s case. He is said to have assured Minakshi’s father that he would use his personal rapport with Bhikhari Singh Payla to ensure the money was repaid.

This revelation paints a picture of long-standing dowry disputes within and between the families, despite the practice being illegal nationwide. The Payla family had previously appeared to defend the dowry system. Nikki’s father, who had given a Scorpio car, cash and gold to both his sons-in-law, sought to justify the practice, as quoted by NDTV: "This is how marriages happen in our clan."

When questioned on why he did not bring his daughter home despite knowing she was being tortured, he reportedly stated, "We need to listen to our samaj and clan members." His brother, Nikki’s uncle Rajkumar Singh, admitted they had capitulated to repeated dowry demands from her in-laws "to keep peace in her family."

The case that ignited the national outrage involved the death of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati, who was burnt alive by her in-laws last week after years of alleged domestic abuse and dowry demands. In a horrific scene witnessed by her seven-year-old son and her sister, who is married into the same family, Nikki was seen in a viral video hobbling down the stairs while engulfed in flames. She later succumbed to her burn injuries.