“Are You Aware Dowry Is Illegal?”: Nikki Bhati’s Father’s Disturbing Reply

Six decades after dowry was outlawed in India, a shocking case has emerged from Uttar Pradesh where a 28-year-old woman, Nikki Bhati, was allegedly burnt alive by her husband and mother-in-law over a demand for ₹36 lakh.

Nikki’s father, Bhikari Singh Payla, admitted that dowry had been part of his daughters’ marriage arrangements. Speaking to NDTV, when asked why he agreed to marry his daughters into a family that demanded dowry, his chilling response exposed the deep-rooted social realities:

“In our clan, marriages happen through dowry mediators. I had married off my daughter well. The wedding happened during demonetisation in 2016.”

On December 10, 2016, Mr. Payla married off his daughters Nikki and Kanchan to brothers Vipin and Rohit. At the wedding, the family gifted a Scorpio SUV, cash, and gold. But over time, the demands escalated—culminating in the recent demand for ₹36 lakh.

On Thursday, an argument broke out between Nikki and her husband Vipin. He, along with his mother Daya, allegedly set her on fire. Vipin, his brother Rohit, and their parents have since been arrested.

Nikki had previously fled to her parental home after repeated assaults but returned following family pressure and reconciliations. Her father admitted that societal expectations prevented him from permanently bringing her back:

“We need to listen to our samaj and clan members,” he said.

Recounting her final moments, Mr. Payla broke down: “They burned her alive and fled. My elder daughter Kanchan called me, crying, ‘Papa, Nikki ko jala diya (they burnt Nikki).’ She had 70% burns and was rushed to Safdarjung Hospital, but she died as soon as we reached. I lost everything.”

Nikki leaves behind a seven-year-old son, who witnessed the horrifying incident. The child now lives with his maternal grandparents. “He cries every evening, saying, ‘They burnt my mother.’ We try to comfort him,” Mr. Payla said.

The family revealed that Vipin and Rohit were unemployed, relying on their father’s grocery shop. When Nikki and Kanchan started their own boutique and parlour to support their children, the brothers allegedly stole from their earnings, sparking repeated fights that ultimately led to Nikki’s tragic death.

Mr. Payla has demanded strict punishment: “I request Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to ensure they are hanged.”

News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.