Saturday, March 29, 2025
Noida Dowry Death: Kiran Bedi Condemns Brutal Killing, Says Sons Seen as Wealth, Daughters as Burden
Former IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Monday strongly condemned the shocking dowry-related death of a 28-year-old woman in Noida, describing the incident as “inhuman” and reflective of a regressive social mindset. The victim, identified as Nikki, was allegedly set on fire by her husband and in-laws after years of dowry harassment.
Speaking to news agency PTI, Bedi said the case exposed the medieval mentality that still prevails in society. “The way she was burnt alive shows how sons have long been considered a source of wealth while daughters are seen as those who drain it. This mindset continues even today. Daughters are treated as a burden, and this needs to change. This is inhuman and shows the endless greed for dowry,” she said.
According to Nikki’s family, the harassment began soon after her marriage in December 2016. Despite giving her in-laws a Scorpio SUV, a motorcycle, and gold jewellery, the demands escalated to Rs 36 lakh in cash and a luxury car. Her elder sister Kanchan, married into the same family, recorded disturbing videos of the assault, which later surfaced on social media. One clip showed Nikki being dragged by her hair, while another captured her engulfed in flames before collapsing on the stairs.
The case has sparked outrage, leading to multiple arrests. Nikki’s husband, Vipin Bhati, was arrested on Saturday. Police said he attempted to escape custody and fired at officers using a sub-inspector’s gun, forcing them to shoot him in the leg before placing him in 14-day judicial custody. Reports noted he showed “no remorse” for his wife’s death. His mother, Daya (55), along with Nikki’s father-in-law and brother-in-law, have also been arrested.
Kanchan, who witnessed the attack, told reporters that Nikki was doused with a flammable liquid and set ablaze in front of her young son. Nikki succumbed to her injuries while being rushed to a Delhi hospital. Their father, Bhikhari Singh, said both daughters were subjected to years of cruelty since their marriages into the Bhati family in 2016.
The horrifying case has once again brought India’s deep-rooted dowry culture into sharp focus, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement of laws and urgent social reform.
