#JusticeforBhati: Is Greater Noida dowry death accused innocent? Many believe so

Noida,UPDATED: Aug 28, 2025 18:49 IST

The death of Nikki Bhati over alleged dowry harassment in Greater Noida has gripped public attention. While the police investigation remains in its initial stage, social media trials have given rise to a frenzy of narratives online.

For the uninitiated, 28-year-old Nikki died after her husband Vipin Bhati set her on fire over a demand for dowry, her family has alleged. Vipin was arrested and shot at after he allegedly tried to escape police custody. Public opinion has since divided in favour of either side.

On social media, the latest wave of campaign is driven by men’s rights activists, Gurjar community members, and sympathisers, according to an India Today analysis.

The campaigners believe Vipin has been framed in the case “falsely”, urging people to carefully look at “facts” before jumping to any sweeping conclusion.

More than 10,000 posts with hashtags such as #JusticeForVipin and #JusticeforVipinBhati have been published on X along with photos and videos passed down as “facts”. Although there is no definite way to find out the exact number of Instagram posts published on a particular subject, one pro-Vipin post seen by India Today was shared by around 800 Instagram accounts in their “Stories” as of Wednesday, August 27. Another popular reel by a men’s rights activist garnered over 43,000 views.

India Today identified at least 10 advocacy groups, including NGOs, that have rallied in support of Vipin. Among them are Bhartiya Men, The Purusharth, Sahodar – Equality for Men, and SIFF (Gender-Biased Laws).

The campaign in Vipin’s defence was launched by a small group of Gujjar community-linked social media accounts and later amplified by men’s rights accounts that have gained traction after back-to-back events involving men suicide over allegedly cruelty by their wives.

They have circulated reels, Stories, and posts to portray Vipin as innocent. Their conclusion is based on the following four claims:

Claim 1: CCTV footage

Neighbours released an undated CCTV recording purportedly showing Vipin in front of a shop across from his home in Sirsa village of Greater Noida on the day of the incident, August 21. In another CCTV clip, the man, identified by supporters as Vipin, can be seen rushing into the house, apparently after hearing screams, before driving a car inside to escort Nikki to the hospital.

The footage is being circulated on social media as supposed evidence of Vipin’s innocence, on the grounds that he was not inside the house when the incident occurred.

Yet these claims remain unproven, with the videos lacking proper verification.

Claim 2: Cylinder blast

Nikki Bhati reportedly told doctors in her dying statement that she suffered burn injuries after a fire at her in-laws' residence due to a cylinder blast. This was also confirmed by a Fortis Hospital memo given to the police by the hospital management.

Social media users have used this memo to call the incident an accident, trashing allegations of dowry harassment and immolation. However, police later recovered an empty bottle of thinner and lighter from Vipin’s residence.

Claim 3: Old clip of assault

After Nikki’s death, her sister Kanchan Bhati released a video that allegedly shows Vipin and his mother assaulting Nikki, dragging her by the hair. The footage also appears to show Vipin with cut marks on his waist.

Supporters of Vipin argue that the video is several months old and claim that Nikki had allegedly attacked him with a pair of scissors, triggering the altercation between the couple. Many social media users also allege that Kanchan is circulating old videos in an attempt to implicate Vipin in Nikki’s death.

Claim 4: Nikki’s pyre lit by father-in-law

A video from the morning after Nikki’s death shows her father-in-law performing her last rites. Supporters argue that if he had been involved in her harassment or murder, the family would not have stayed to take responsibility for the cremation.

Nikki’s family contends that her death was the culmination of months of friction over her plans to open a beauty parlour and her visible presence on Instagram, where she often shared reels with her sister Kanchan. India Today earlier reported that a woman alleged to be in an affair with Vipin filed an FIR in Noida in October last year, claiming he thrashed her after his wife caught them together. Her complaint accused Vipin of assault and exploitation.

Social media saw a much wider campaign in victim Nikki’s support after Kanchan shared a video of Nikki’s immolation. Hashtags like #JusticeForNikki were used over 11,600 times along with #StopDowry and #__ to demand justice.

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