Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old Indian woman who had moved to the United States for higher studies and work, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in a Maryland apartment on January 3.
Maryland police initially named the accused as Nikitha’s “ex-boyfriend”, a description her family strongly disputes. Speaking to The Indian Express, her father, Anand Godishala, clarified that the man was not a romantic partner but her former flatmate, with whom she had financial disagreements.
Nikitha’s body was found in the residence of Arjun Sharma, 26, who police say murdered her on New Year’s Eve. According to investigators, Sharma reported Nikitha missing on January 2 before fleeing to India. Following the fiasco, an international manhunt led to his arrest in Tamil Nadu on Monday.
Also Read | Interpol nabs ex-boyfriend Arjun Sharma in Nikitha Godishala murder case from Tamil Nadu
Howard County police have since obtained an arrest warrant against Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder. US authorities suspect that he killed Nikitha and escaped the country immediately after.
What’s the motive behind Nikitha’s murder? Father alleged this
Anand Godishala alleged that Sharma had borrowed money from Nikitha and turned violent when she demanded repayment before his planned return to India. He has called for “tough punishment” and urged Indian and US authorities to fast-track the process of bringing his daughter’s body home, per an ANI report.
“It is not right to call the accused her ex-boyfriend. He is her ex-flatmate. Four people used to live in that apartment. After she started working two years ago, she moved to a separate flat. I believe there was some financial disagreement with the accused,” Anand stated to The Indian Express.
“He had a habit of borrowing money, and he borrowed from my daughter, too. 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. I request the Centre and state governments to help us bring back my daughter’s body as soon as possible.”
Also Read | 'He killed her and ran away'; Father of Nikitha Godishala, killed in US seeks justice
Nikitha’s cousin, Saraswati Godishala, also filed a complaint with the Indian Embassy in the US. She alleged that Sharma made unauthorised transactions worth around USD 3,500 from Nikitha’s bank account and owed her nearly USD 4,500.
“I sent him USD 4,500, out of which he returned USD 3,500. On January 2, Arjun contacted me again and asked for another USD 1,000, but I refused,” she said in her complaint.
