Noida: The police have arrested the mother-in-law of Nikki Bhati, a woman who was set on fire allegedly over a dowry demand of Rs 36 lakh. The victim’s husband, Vipin Bhati, had been taken into custody earlier.

Police said Bhati attempted to run away while being escorted for a routine medical check around 1:30 pm on Sunday.

“He was chased and apprehended after being shot in the leg,” the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police PRO confirmed.

Bhati’s mother, Dayavati, was held by the Kasna police team in connection with the case. Bhati, a native of Sirsa village under Kasna Police Station limits, had already been detained on Saturday after disturbing videos of the assault went viral.

What do the videos show?

One video showed Bhati and another woman dragging his wife, Nikki, by the hair and brutally attacking her. Another clip captured Nikki, severely burnt, stumbling down a staircase before collapsing. She died from her injuries on Thursday night while being taken to hospital.

What does the victim’s sister say?

Nikki’s elder sister, Kanchan, who is also married into the same family, filmed the attack and accused Bhati and his relatives of killing her sister for dowry.

“We were beaten and tortured for days. They were demanding Rs 36 lakh. They hit her on the neck and head, threw acid, and set her on fire in front of her child,” Kanchan told reporters.

She added that she too was assaulted when she tried to intervene.

“They slapped me. I was injured and unconscious the entire day,” she said. Kanchan further alleged that her in-laws wanted Nikki out of the way so that Bhati could remarry.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Sudhir Kumar said police were alerted after receiving a call from Fortis Hospital about a woman with severe burn injuries who was later referred to Safdarjung Hospital.

“Police immediately left for Safdarjung Hospital, but the woman succumbed to her injuries before the team could reach the hospital,” he explained.

Nikki, who married Vipin in 2016 and had a young son with him, was cremated by her family members. A case has been registered against Bhati and his family at Kasna Police Station based on Kanchan’s complaint.

(PTI inpust)