Dowry has long been illegal in India, yet it remains deeply entrenched in marriage traditions. Cars, jewellery, and cash are often flaunted openly at weddings, with reels and videos normalising the practice. Behind the glitter, however, lies a darker reality—women continue to face harassment, abuse, and even death over dowry demands. The recent Noida dowry murder of 28-year-old Nikki Bhati has once again exposed how this centuries-old practice persists despite awareness campaigns and laws against it.
Nikki Bhati’s Tragic Death
On August 21, 2025, 28-year-old Nikki Bhati was allegedly beaten by her husband Vipin and mother-in-law Daya at her in-laws’ home in Greater Noida. According to the FIR filed by her sister Kanchan, Vipin poured a flammable substance on Nikki and set her ablaze after repeated dowry demands. Horrifying videos recorded by Kanchan show Nikki being assaulted and later walking in flames. Despite being rushed to Delhi's Safdarjung Hospital, she succumbed to severe burn injuries.
Nikki’s family alleges that she had faced constant harassment over dowry demands, including a demand for Rs 36 lakh. Her father had already given a Scorpio SUV, a Bullet bike, gold, and cash during her marriage in 2016. Yet, the in-laws were allegedly dissatisfied, pressuring Nikki and Kanchan, who were married into the same household. Both sisters, who ran a make-up studio, were allegedly forced to hand over their earnings and endured violence at home.
#WATCH | Greater Noida: Accused of murdering his wife Nikki over dowry demands, Vipin Bhati says, "... I have no remorse. I haven't killed her. She died on her own. Husband and wife often have fights, it is very common..." pic.twitter.com/YrPFaYARuY
— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2025
The case has shaken the nation, with Nikki’s father demanding justice: "They are killers, they should be shot, their home razed. My daughter was raising her son alone by running a parlour, yet they tortured her."
Dowry Cases In India In The Last 5 Years
Despite the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, dowry-related violence remains alarmingly common in India.
- Data shows that between 2018 and 2022, there were over 35,000 reported dowry deaths across the country (Source: National Crime Records Bureau, NCRB).
- In 2022 alone, India recorded 6,589 dowry deaths, which translates to nearly 18 women dying every day due to dowry harassment (Source: NCRB 2022 Report).
High-profile cases have repeatedly exposed how ingrained this practice remains:
- In 2021, Vismaya Nair, a young medical student from Kerala, died under suspicious circumstances just one year into her marriage. Investigations revealed sustained dowry harassment, despite her family providing a car and gold (Source: The Hindu).
- In 2020, a 24-year-old woman in Telangana was found dead after allegedly being tortured for additional dowry beyond what was given during marriage (Source: Indian Express).
Numerous social media reels and wedding showcases still glorify the display of cars, jewellery, and luxury goods given as dowry, normalising the practice under the guise of tradition.
The Noida dowry murder is not an isolated tragedy but part of a much larger crisis that continues to haunt Indian society. Despite decades of legal bans and growing awareness, dowry remains deeply woven into marriage customs. From extravagant social media reels flaunting cars and cash to families justifying "gifts" as tradition, the culture of dowry has merely adapted rather than disappeared.
Nikki Bhati’s horrific death is a painful reminder that until dowry is socially rejected and not just legally prohibited, countless women will continue to face violence in their own homes. Real justice lies not just in punishing the perpetrators but in dismantling the mindset that still allows dowry to thrive.
Image Credits: Instagram And Freepik
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