US ‘suitcase murder’: Ex-boyfriend wanted for killing Hyderabad techie taken into custody in Delhi

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court has taken into custody a man wanted in connection with the alleged murder of his former girlfriend in the United States after non-bailable warrants issued against him were executed, according to a court order passed on August 25.Additional chief judicial magistrate Animesh Bhaskar Mani Tripathi recorded that the accused, Arjun Sharma, was arrested after the warrants were executed and directed that he be taken into custody and that necessary custody warrants be prepared, news agency ANI reported.The accused was medically examined following his arrest, with no injuries reported. The arresting officer also informed his family about the arrest, the order said.The development comes in connection with the alleged killing of 27-year-old Telugu woman Nikitha Godishala in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland.Nikitha was allegedly killed around New Year’s Eve in 2025.According to US police allegations, Sharma, who was Nikitha’s former boyfriend, allegedly stabbed her, reported her missing and subsequently fled the US for India.Nikitha’s body was later allegedly found inside a suitcase kept in a closet at Sharma’s apartment during a police search. US authorities believe she was killed between December 31, 2025 and January 2, 2026, while Sharma allegedly left the US on January 3.Sharma is facing two counts of murder and two counts of assault before the District Court of Maryland for Howard County.The charges carry a punishment of more than one year in prison and correspond to offences under Sections 101 and 118 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Delhi court order said.CBI flags Hyderabad caseDuring the hearing, the CBI informed the court that Sharma was also a suspect in an FIR registered at Lallaguda Police Station in Hyderabad.The court was told that a Lallaguda police officer had served a notice at Sharma’s address in Agra. A daily diary entry was subsequently made before a raid was conducted to execute the non-bailable warrants.Special public prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta appeared for the Union of India along with advocates Md Faizan and Rohit Singh Bora, while advocate Ajay Sharma represented the accused.Extradition proceedings underwayThe proceedings in India stem from an extradition request made under the India-US Extradition Treaty, notified on September 14, 1999.The court record said the extradition petition was supported by authenticated documents, including the arrest warrant issued by US authorities. It also recorded that the requirements under Article 2 of the treaty had been met.US authorities had launched an international manhunt for Sharma after Nikitha’s body was allegedly recovered from his apartment.A US arrest warrant was subsequently issued against him on first- and second-degree murder charges.Nikitha’s father had earlier alleged that a monetary dispute between his daughter and Sharma preceded the alleged killing.(With agency inputs)You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Delhi | Silver Rate in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi | Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Petrol Price in Delhi | Diesel Price in Delhi | CNG Price in Delhi | LPG Price in DelhiStay updated with the latest Delhi news. Download the TOI App.