Nikitha Godishala's father alleges financial motive after daughter's murder in US: ‘Her ex-roommate used to…'

Nikitha Godishala's father alleged that suspect Arjun Sharma, whom he identified as her ex-roommate, used to take a lot of money from her.

Updated on: Jan 5, 2026, 17:08:09 IST

By Shweta Kukreti

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Indian woman Nikitha Godishala was found dead with stab wounds inside an apartment in Columbia, Maryland, on January 3. The suspect has been identified as 26-year-old Arjun Sharma, who according to the Howard County police, fled to India after reporting her ex-girlfriend as missing. The police found Godishala's body in his residence in Maryland.

Nikitha Godishala was found dead in an apartment in US.

Sharma has been charged with first-degree and second-degree murder.

Speaking to ANI in Hyderabad, Telangana, Godishala's father, Anand Godishala, stated that his daughter went to Columbia four years ago and was working there.

Also Read: Nikitha Godishala murder case: Ex-boyfriend Arjun Sharma who fled US arrested in Tamil Nadu

Nikitha Godishala's father alleges financial motive behind her murder

According to Godishala's father, Arjun Sharma was his daughter's ex-roommate who used to borrow money from her. He further alleged that when Nikitha requested Sharma to repay the money, he murdered her and fled to India.

“Four people used to stay in an apartment. Her ex-roommate used to take a lot of money from my daughter. When she asked him to return the money before he flew to India, he killed her and ran away. I request the state and the central government to handover the body of my daughter as soon as possible,” Anand said.

“He was her ex-roommate; it is not right that he was her ex-boyfriend,” he added.

Police probe uncovers premeditation

Authorities suspect that Sharma murdered Godishala shortly after 7 PM on December 31. According to police, Sharma dialed 911 to report her missing prior to departing for Dulles International Airport and boarding a flight to India.

Howard County police spokesperson Seth Hoffman stated that the situation pointed towards premeditation. “There was obviously some planning to commit this act and then flee the country,” Hoffman informed WJZ Investigator Mike Hellgren. The murder weapon has yet to be confirmed as recovered.

Hoffman further said that there were no calls or complaints logged from the apartment before the incident. While Godishala and Sharma maintained communication following their breakup, authorities have not yet determined a motive, police said.

Godishala served as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health in Columbia, Maryland, where she commenced her role in February 2025 and received the 'All-In Award' for her exemplary performance within her first year.

Earlier, she held the position of Data Analysis and Visualisation Specialist at Management Sciences for Health and also worked at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shweta Kukreti
Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More

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