The family of Telugu woman Nikitha Godishala, who was allegedly murdered in the United States, has asserted that her killing was the result of a money dispute and not linked to a romantic relationship, contrary to earlier media reports.
Nikitha Godishala (27) was found stabbed to death in Howard County, Columbia, Maryland, on New Year’s Eve. According to US police, the prime accused, Arjun Sharma, allegedly stabbed Nikitha, reported her as missing, and later fled to India.
Speaking to the media in Hyderabad, Nikitha’s father, Anand Godishala, clarified that the accused was not his daughter’s ex-boyfriend but her former roommate. He said Nikitha had been living in Columbia for the past four years and was working as a data analyst.
“My daughter went to the US four years ago. He was only her roommate earlier, along with two others. It is completely wrong to portray him as her ex-boyfriend,” Anand said, as quoted by PTI.
According to the family, the murder stemmed from a financial dispute. Anand Godishala stated that four people were living together in the apartment and that the accused had borrowed a substantial amount of money from Nikitha.
“When my daughter asked him to return the money before he left for India, he killed her and escaped,” he alleged.
Nikitha last spoke to her father on the night of December 31, when she called to wish him on New Year’s Eve. After losing contact, she was reported missing on January 2. Howard County police later confirmed that she was found dead with multiple stab wounds inside the Columbia apartment linked to the accused.
Nikitha’s cousin, Saraswati Godishala, has reportedly lodged a complaint with the Indian Embassy in the US, detailing the financial transactions between Nikitha and the accused in the days leading up to the murder.
According to media reports, Sharma had borrowed USD 4,500 (approximately ₹4.07 lakh) from Nikitha. While he allegedly returned USD 3,500, he later sought an additional USD 1,000, which Nikitha refused to lend.
US authorities have since obtained an arrest warrant against Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder, stating that the killing was premeditated. Although some reports claimed that Sharma was arrested in Tamil Nadu, sources later clarified that the detained individual only resembled the suspect and was released after verification.
The accused remains at large, and US authorities are working to trace his whereabouts and pursue his extradition to face trial.
Meanwhile, Nikitha’s family has appealed to both the state and central governments to facilitate the early repatriation of her body and ensure strict punishment for the accused.
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