Indian girl murdered in US: Ex-boyfriend Arjun Sharma arrested in Chennai while fleeing

A shocking case involving the death of an Indian woman in the United States has taken a major turn with the arrest of her former boyfriend in Chennai, where he was allegedly trying to flee to his hometown. The arrest comes a day after the woman, who had been reported missing, was found murdered in the US state of Maryland.

The victim, identified as 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala, was a resident of Ellicott City in Howard County. She was reported missing on January 2. According to a statement released by the Howard County Police, Nikitha’s body was discovered on Sunday, January 4, 2026, inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, belonging to her ex-boyfriend, Arjun Sharma, aged 26. Police confirmed that she had sustained multiple stab wounds.

Escape After Murder

Following the discovery, US authorities issued arrest warrants against Sharma on charges of first- and second-degree murder. Investigators revealed that Sharma himself had initially approached the police to file a missing person complaint, claiming that he last saw Nikitha on December 31 at his apartment. However, during the course of the investigation, police uncovered that Sharma had left the United States for India on the same day the missing report was filed.

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A search warrant was executed at Sharma’s apartment on January 3, leading to the recovery of Nikitha’s body. Based on preliminary findings, detectives believe that the murder took place shortly after 7 pm on December 31. After fleeing to India, Sharma was tracked and arrested in Chennai with the assistance of law enforcement agencies.

In Touch With Indian Embassy

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Washington DC has confirmed that it is in touch with Nikitha Godishala’s family and is providing all necessary consular support. The Embassy also stated that it is coordinating with local US authorities regarding the case.

Howard County Police have said the investigation is still underway, and the motive behind the crime has not yet been established. US federal agencies are also involved as legal proceedings move forward in this cross-border case that has sparked widespread concern and outrage.