Hyderabad: Two days after the CBI took Arjun Sharma into custody in connection with the death of Nikitha Godishala in Maryland, United States, her family said the arrest was a welcome development but added that their fight for justice continues nearly eight months after her death.In a release, the family said they were seeking greater transparency from US authorities and answers about the circumstances surrounding her death. They said they had made nearly 200 calls and approached authorities and organisations in both India and the US in an effort to obtain information about the case.The family said its communication with US authorities had been limited, with the last substantial interaction taking place around late Jan or early Feb. “We received crucial information through the media, and not from the officials,” Nikitha’s parents said, referring to reports about the circumstances surrounding their daughter’s death.“We were not even in a position to grieve her death. We had to first navigate the system and go through the entire process of bringing her back to India,” the family said. They have now urged US authorities to communicate directly with them and share information that can legally be provided to the victim’s family.Nikitha died around Dec 31, 2025, in Maryland. According to the family, they were not officially informed that her remains had been found inside a suitcase and instead learnt of the detail through media reports.The parents said they subsequently approached multiple authorities and organisations, including the Government of India, NHRC, Telangana Police, Women’s Commission and political representatives, seeking assistance in understanding the investigation.The family welcomed Sharma’s recent arrest and custody in Delhi as a major breakthrough but also sought an examination of financial transactions, phone activity and communications involving Nikitha and Sharma, claiming that financial disputes existed between them before her death.The family appealed to Indian and US authorities to cooperate and conduct a thorough investigation so that all those found responsible are held accountable.
