The hunt for the killer of a 27-year-old Telugu woman has come to a dramatic end in Tamil Nadu, where Interpol officers tracked down and arrested Arjun Sharma. The accused, Sharma, is known to be guilty of murdering Nikita Godishala, a data analyst living in Maryland, before boarding his flight back to his native country of India in a last-ditch attempt to evade justice. The incident has raised concerns in the Indian-American community due to the ruthlessness of the offender's first reaction after committing the crime.
Nikita, who worked for Vheda Health and had recently been honoured with a company award, was first reported missing on January 2. In a chilling move, it was Sharma himself — her former boyfriend — who initially contacted the Howard County Police, claiming he hadn’t seen her since New Year’s Eve. However, investigators quickly grew suspicious when they realised the 26-year-old had boarded a plane to India the very same day he raised the alarm. When police finally broke into Sharma’s apartment in Columbia, Maryland, on January 3, they discovered Nikita’s body.
She had been stabbed multiple times in what police are describing as a violent domestic homicide. The investigation quickly scaled into an international operation. While Howard County authorities secured murder warrants, US federal agencies worked around the clock with Indian law enforcement to track Sharma’s movements. After a period of intense surveillance, he was intercepted in Tamil Nadu. The legal process of extradition focuses on to bring him back him to Maryland to stand trial.
Back in the US, the Indian Embassy has confirmed they are in close contact with Nikita’s grieving family to provide consular support and ensure the case remains a priority with local officials. Meanwhile, authorities have had to clear up some confusion online, urging the public not to share a specific viral image that misidentifies an innocent person as the suspect. Nikita's family is now left waiting for the formal proceedings that will hopefully lead to a conviction.
Also read: TN CM Stalin announces ₹3,000 cash gift for 'Pongal'
Follow us
