Delhi Court Remands Man Wanted by US Authorities in Maryland Murder Case
A Delhi court on August 25 took into custody Arjun Sharma, a man wanted in the United States in connection with the alleged murder of his 27-year-old former girlfriend Nikitha Godishala in Maryland, following the execution of non-bailable warrants issued against him.
Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Animesh Bhaskar Mani Tripathi recorded that Sharma was arrested after the warrants were executed. The magistrate directed that Sharma be taken into custody and that the necessary custody warrants be prepared. The accused underwent a medical examination following his arrest, which showed no injuries, and his family was informed by the arresting officer.
The arrest comes in connection with the alleged killing of Godishala, a Telugu woman, in Columbia, Howard County, Maryland. According to US police allegations, Sharma allegedly stabbed Godishala, reported her missing, and subsequently fled the US for India. US authorities believe she was killed between December 31, 2025, and January 2, 2026, while Sharma allegedly left the country on January 3.
Godishala’s body was later recovered inside a suitcase placed in a closet at Sharma’s apartment during a search by US police. Her father had previously alleged that a monetary dispute between his daughter and Sharma preceded the alleged killing.
Sharma faces two counts of murder and two counts of assault before the District Court of Maryland for Howard County. The charges carry a prison sentence of more than one year and correspond to offences under Sections 101 and 118 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Delhi court order noted.
The proceedings in India stem from an extradition request submitted under the India-US Extradition Treaty, which was notified on September 14, 1999. The court noted that the extradition petition was supported by authenticated documents, including the arrest warrant issued by US authorities, and met the requirements under Article 2 of the treaty.
During the proceedings, the Central Bureau of Investigation informed the court that Sharma is also listed as 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, and a daily diary entry was made prior to the raid conducted to execute the non-bailable warrants.
Special Public Prosecutor Naveen Kumar Matta, alongside advocates Md Faizan and Rohit Singh Bora, represented the Union of India, while advocate Ajay Sharma appeared for the accused.
