New Delhi: The husband of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati, who was set on fire after years of dowry harassment in Greater Noida, was shot in the leg while attempting to escape police custody, a day after her death.

Vipin Bhati has been arrested for burning his wife Nikki alive, officers said.

Nikki died at Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital on Thursday, hours after she was admitted with severe burn injuries.

Her sister Kanchan, who is married to Vipin’s brother Rohit, alleged that Vipin and their mother Daya doused Nikki with a flammable liquid and set her ablaze.

Graphic videos shared by Kanchan show Nikki being dragged and beaten before she was seen engulfed in flames, stumbling down a staircase.

Vipin was taken into custody soon after, while his mother Daya, father Satyavir, and brother Rohit remain absconding.

This morning, Nikki’s father Bhikari Singh Payla, devastated by his daughter’s death, demanded the harshest punishment.

“They are killers, they should be shot, their home razed. My daughter was bringing up her son by running a parlour. They tortured her. The whole family was involved in the conspiracy, and they killed my daughter,” he told NDTV, hours before Vipin’s attempted escape.

Senior police officer Sudhir Kumar said Vipin was taken to his home to recover the bottle used in the crime when he tried to snatch a policeman’s pistol and opened fire. “In retaliatory firing, he suffered a bullet injury in his leg,” Kumar confirmed.

Speaking to ANI after being hospitalised, Vipin denied the charges. “I have not done anything. She died on her own,” he claimed, adding, “Fights between husband and wife happen everywhere. It is not a big deal.”

Years of abuse and dowry demands

Nikki and her sister Kanchan married brothers Vipin and Rohit on December 10, 2016. Kanchan said her parents had given the family a top-model Scorpio SUV, a Royal Enfield Bullet, gold, cash, and clothes, along with regular gifts on occasions like Karwa Chauth.

But, she alleged, the in-laws were never satisfied.

“They would say the clothes gifted by my parents cost Rs 2,” she told NDTV.

She further said Vipin and Rohit often returned home late at night, refused to take calls, and were involved with other women.

“If we confronted them, they would beat us. Our nights were spent crying. Nothing is left now, my sister is gone. She was about two-three years younger than me, but people thought we were twins,” she said, breaking down.

The sisters ran a make-up studio, but according to Kanchan, their in-laws disapproved and took away all their earnings.

Nikki’s six-year-old son witnessed the final moments of his mother’s life.

“They first put something on Mumma. Then they slapped her, before setting her on fire with a lighter,” he said.

“If I had not shot this video, nobody would know how my sister died. I poured water, tried to save her, but fainted midway,” Kanchan added.