Nikitha Murder Accused Sharma Taken Into Custody in Delhi

Hyderabad:Arjun Sharma, wanted in connection with the killing of Hyderabad woman Nikitha Godishala in Maryland in the United States, has been taken into custody by a Delhi court following execution of non-bailable warrants, marking a major development in the eight-month-old case.

Nikitha’s parents, however, said Sharma’s custody was only one step forward and that they were still waiting for clear answers from US authorities about the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death and the investigation.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle at Lalaguda on Thursday, Nikitha’s father Anand Godishala said the family had made nearly 200 calls and approached authorities and organisations in India and the US before Sharma was taken into custody.

A Delhi court on August 25 took Sharma into custody after non-bailable warrants issued against him were executed. The proceedings are linked to the case in which US authorities have accused him of killing Nikitha in Maryland before he returned to India.

Nikitha was found dead with multiple stab wounds in Sharma’s apartment in Columbia, Maryland, on January 3. Investigators believe she was killed on December 31, 2025. For the family, Sharma’s arrest has brought some relief, but several questions remain unanswered.

Anand said one of their most painful concerns was that they had learnt through media reports, rather than through investigators, that Nikitha’s body had reportedly been found inside a suitcase. The family said it had not received official confirmation of this detail.

“Why should we learn crucial details about my daughter’s death through the media rather than from the authorities investigating her case? I need answers, not confrontation,” Anand said.

He said communication from US authorities had remained limited despite repeated emails and attempts to seek information. According to the family, its last substantial interaction with US authorities was around late January or early February 2026, after assistance from Indian-American Telugu associations and elected representatives.

Anand said the family had approached the Government of India, the National Human Rights Commission, Telangana Police, the Women’s Commission and several public representatives seeking assistance.

He said senior police officials Charu Sinha and Rakshitha Murthy had been cooperative and remained in contact with the family.

The family also alleged that it had received indirect threats and intimidating communications while Sharma remained free. It has asked the authorities to examine the origin of those communications and determine whether they were linked to anyone associated with the case.

Nikitha’s parents also said they did not want her death reduced to a simplistic romantic dispute and urged investigators to examine possible financial issues.

According to the family, Sharma had lost his job around August-September 2025 and later borrowed money from Nikitha and members of her family. They said there were financial disputes involving money allegedly owed to Nikitha before her death.

The family has asked investigators in India and the US to examine financial transactions, communications and activity involving Nikitha’s financial accounts and mobile phone before and after her death.

They have also sought investigation into the conduct of Rachna Sharma, mother of Arjun Sharma, including allegations concerning her knowledge of Sharma’s whereabouts and financial transactions. The family stressed that it was not seeking a presumption of guilt but wanted investigators to determine, on the basis of evidence, whether any other person bore criminal responsibility.

Anand thanked the Centre, the NHRC, Telangana police, the Women’s Commission, public representatives and others who had assisted the family.

“When we did not know which door to knock on next, every person who answered our call mattered. Every official who listened, every representation that was forwarded and every institution that acted gave us the strength to continue,” he said.

Nikitha’s family has now appealed to US authorities for direct and transparent communication and sought information that can lawfully be shared with the victim’s next of kin.

“We cannot bring our daughter back. We ran from pillar to post, made nearly 200 calls and refused to give up even when we feared justice might never come,” Nikitha’s aunt said.

“We now respectfully ask the US authorities for transparency, cooperation and answers. We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for what every parent deserves when their child is killed — the truth,” she said.

The family said it would continue pursuing the case until the circumstances surrounding Nikitha’s death were established and those responsible were held accountable.