A sessions court in Greater Noida has once again denied bail to Rohit Bhati, the brother-in-law of 26-year-old Nikki, who was allegedly set on fire and killed by her husband and in-laws in August. The court deemed the accusations against him "grave" and stated his alleged role in the conspiracy could not be dismissed at this stage of the investigation.
Second Bail Plea Rejected
This marks the second time Rohit Bhati has been refused bail. In September, a chief judicial magistrate had rejected the bail applications of all four accused in the case: Nikki's husband Vipin, his parents Daya and Satveer, and Rohit Bhati. While the other three remain in judicial custody without seeking fresh bail, Rohit alone approached the sessions court for a second attempt, which was dismissed on Friday.
The tragic incident occurred on August 21 inside Nikki's in-laws' home in Kasna, Greater Noida. Police allege she was held down, an inflammable thinner was poured over her, and she was deliberately set ablaze. The victim, a resident of Sirsa in Greater Noida, succumbed to her injuries the same day while being transferred from a hospital in Greater Noida to Delhi.
Chargesheet and Court Arguments
In November, police filed a voluminous 500-page chargesheet, naming Rohit as one of the four alleged conspirators. The case is being prosecuted under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including murder, voluntarily causing hurt, and criminal conspiracy. The chargesheet paints a picture of a meticulously planned assault, accusing the family of coordinating movements, staging appearances before CCTV cameras to create alibis, and later attempting to frame the incident as a kitchen accident.
During the hearing, Rohit's defense counsel, Manoj Bhati, argued vehemently for his client's innocence. He claimed Rohit was "falsely implicated without a shred of evidence" and presented an alibi stating Rohit was on duty at the Sirsa toll plaza when the fire started. The defense cited mobile location data, hospital CCTV footage, and medical staff testimonies as proof of his absence from the crime scene.
Furthermore, the lawyer referenced Nikki's initial statement to doctors, where she attributed her burns to a kitchen fire, and the statement of her young son, who reportedly told investigators he did not know where his grandparents or uncle were during the incident. "With no criminal history, a completed chargesheet and evidence that itself raises doubts, continued custody serves no purpose," the defense contended.
Prosecution's Stance and Court's Decision
Opposing the bail plea, advocate Udham Singh Tongad, representing Nikki's sister Kanchan, argued that evidence clearly placed Rohit in the chain of events. He pointed to the First Information Report (FIR) filed by Kanchan, which stated all in-laws were present during the attack. Tongad also highlighted the child's detailed account to investigators, describing a quarrel followed by his mother being set on fire.
A key point of contention was Rohit's presence when Nikki was taken to the hospital. The prosecution argued this indicated his proximity to the crime scene and labeled his alibi as "self-serving." They also expressed concerns that granting bail could undermine witness protection and allow interference with statements from key witnesses, including family and neighbors.
After considering arguments from both sides, judge Atul Srivastava found the allegations "serious and supported by material still under active investigation." The court held that Rohit's involvement could not be ruled out presently and concluded that grounds for bail were insufficient, leading to the dismissal of the application.
Following the setback, Rohit Bhati's lawyer announced the defense's plan to approach the Allahabad High Court to seek bail, asserting they possess all necessary proof to demonstrate his client was not at the residence during the fateful incident.
