The father of a 27-year-old woman from Secunderabad, found murdered in the United States, has publicly contested the police's description of the prime suspect as her 'ex-boyfriend'. Anand Godishala asserts the accused, Arjun Sharma, was actually his daughter Nikitha's former flatmate, and their conflict stemmed from financial disagreements.
Clarification from the Grieving Father
In an exclusive conversation with The Indian Express, Anand Godishala from Secunderabad provided crucial context about his daughter's relationship with the accused. Nikitha Godishala had moved to the US in 2021 for higher studies and later began working as a data analyst in Ellicott City, Maryland. Her father emphasized that it was incorrect to label Arjun Sharma as her ex-boyfriend.
"She had gone for higher studies and had started working there. It is not right to call the accused her ex-boyfriend. He is her ex-flatmate," Anand stated. He explained that four individuals, including Nikitha and Sharma, had initially shared an apartment. After securing employment two years ago, Nikitha moved to a separate residence.
"I believe that there was some financial disagreement with the accused," the father revealed, pinpointing a potential motive starkly different from a romantic fallout. He elaborated that Sharma had a habit of borrowing money and had taken loans from Nikitha as well. "When she asked him to return the money, I think he asked her to come to his flat, and he attacked her there and fled," Anand Godishala surmised.
Timeline of the Crime and Investigation
According to the Howard County Police Department in Maryland, the grim sequence of events unfolded around the New Year. Nikitha Godishala's body was discovered on January 3, 2026, inside Arjun Sharma's apartment on Twin Rivers Road. The police investigation indicates Sharma allegedly killed Nikitha shortly after 7 pm on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025.
In a deceptive move, Sharma, aged 26, reported Nikitha missing to the police on January 2, claiming she was his ex-girlfriend and he had last seen her in his apartment on December 31. On the same day he filed the report, Sharma boarded a flight to India, leaving the country. Detectives executing a search warrant at his apartment the following day, January 3, found Nikitha deceased.
While the Howard County police stated the investigation is ongoing and no motive is officially known, they are collaborating with U.S. federal law enforcement agencies to locate and arrest Arjun Sharma, who is now believed to be in India.
Background of the Victim and Family's Plea
Nikitha Godishala was an accomplished professional, having first completed a pharmacy course from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in Hyderabad. She then pursued a Master's degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland before working as a data analyst. Her elder sister, Saraswati, also resides in the United States.
Amidst his profound grief, Anand Godishala has made a heartfelt appeal to the authorities. "I request the Centre and state governments to help us bring back my daughter's body as soon as possible," he said, highlighting the agonizing wait the family now endures. His statements have introduced a critical dimension to the case, shifting the focus from a presumed personal relationship to a possible financial dispute that turned fatal.
The case has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by Indian nationals abroad and underscores the complexities of cross-border legal challenges when a suspect flees to another country.
