Nikitha Godishala murder: Sister alleges ex-boyfriend looted lakhs from victim, fled to India after her death

Nikitha Godishala

• Interpol arrests Arjun Sharma in Tamil Nadu for US woman's death, financial fraud
• Sharma allegedly took $3,500 from Nikitha Godishala's account before fleeing the US.
• US and India continue joint probes into death and financial crimes.

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Interpol officers have arrested a man in Tamil Nadu wanted in connection with the death of a 27-year-old Indian woman in the US, as her family levels explosive new allegations of financial exploitation in the days before she died.

Arjun Sharma was detained on Monday following a coordinated international manhunt involving US federal agencies and Indian authorities. His arrest came after he fled the US for India on January 2, the same day he reported his former girlfriend, Nikitha Godishala, missing to police in Maryland.

The case has taken a dramatic turn with the victim’s family submitting a formal complaint to the Indian Embassy in the US, alleging Sharma conducted unauthorised financial transactions from Godishala’s account and owed her family substantial debts.

The complaint, as reported by India Today, accuses Sharma of withdrawing approximately $3,500 from the deceased’s bank account before leaving the country.

Nikitha Godishala, a data analyst from Telugu states based in Maryland, was found dead at Sharma’s residence. The Howard County Police had launched a missing person investigation on January 2 after Sharma claimed he had last seen her on New Year’s Eve.

According to the complaint filed by Godishala’s sister, Saraswati, the financial dealings were part of a troubling pattern. She stated that on December 27, Sharma sought money from both sisters. Godishala subsequently approached Saraswati on Sharma’s behalf, requesting around $5,000 in assistance.

Saraswati further alleges that Sharma owed the family a total of $4,500. “I sent him $4,500, out of which he returned $3,500,” her complaint states. She reportedly refused a subsequent request from Sharma for an additional $1,000 on January 2, noting he had still not repaid $1,000 from the earlier sum.

The timing of Sharma’s departure immediately after filing the missing person report raised immediate red flags for investigators, prompting them to alert international agencies. This swift coordination led to his location and arrest in Tamil Nadu upon his return.

Authorities in the US continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding Godishala’s death. The dual probes now encompass not only the tragedy itself but also the serious allegations of financial malfeasance that paint a picture of exploitation preceding it.