The grieving family of Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old woman from Secunderabad found murdered in the United States, has made a desperate appeal to authorities. They are urging for the swift issuance of an international arrest warrant against her former flatmate, Arjun Sharma, who is accused of the crime and is believed to have fled to India.
A Tragic Discovery in Maryland
According to police in the US state of Maryland, the tragedy unfolded in Maryland City. Nikitha Godishala's body was discovered on January 3 inside the apartment of Arjun Sharma, her former flatmate. Shockingly, Sharma himself had reported Godishala missing on January 2, stating she was last seen at his residence on New Year's Eve. Authorities allege that the murder took place on December 31. In a move that has raised serious suspicions, Sharma boarded a flight to India on the very same day he filed the missing person report.
Family's Anguish and Plea for Action
Back home in Vijayapuri Colony, Secunderabad, Godishala's family is devastated and feeling helpless. "We are numb with grief and did not know who to turn to," expressed family members. Their primary focus is now twofold: to repatriate Nikitha's body to India as soon as possible and to ensure her alleged killer faces justice.
They have reached out to their local representative, Secunderabad MP and Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, seeking intervention. The family has urged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to liaise with US authorities to expedite both the repatriation process and the issuance of a Red Corner notice through Interpol for Arjun Sharma's arrest. Reddy has confirmed he is in touch with MEA officials regarding the matter.
The Hunt for Justice Stalls Without a Warrant
The central obstacle, as highlighted by the family, is the lack of an international arrest warrant. "It is known that he fled to India and is hiding somewhere here, but no one is searching for him because there is no international arrest warrant," a family member stated bluntly. This legal gap prevents Indian authorities from actively apprehending Sharma based solely on the US charges.
Officials have informed the family that the US Attorney's Office is working with Interpol and that a Red Notice—which functions as an international arrest warrant—is expected to be issued soon. While Maryland police are still investigating the motive, Nikitha's father, Anand Godishala, has revealed a potential financial dispute. He stated that Sharma had borrowed money from his daughter and a conflict arose when she asked for it to be repaid.
The case underscores the complexities of cross-border justice. As the Godishala family awaits the return of their daughter's remains, their fight for legal recourse hinges on the formal international alert that would compel action against the prime suspect now believed to be within Indian borders.
