A major development has unfolded in the high-profile murder case of 27-year-old Indian-American woman Nikitha Godishala, as the prime suspect was arrested in Tamil Nadu on Monday following an international manhunt.
The suspect, identified as Arjun Sharma, is Nikitha’s ex-boyfriend. He reportedly fled the United States days after Nikitha’s body was discovered in his Maryland apartment.
Sharma was tracked down in Tamil Nadu by Interpol officials acting on information shared by US authorities, India Today reported.
The arrest marks a significant breakthrough in a case that has drawn intense media attention both in the United States and India.
Sharma had reported Nikitha as missing on January 2
Nikitha, a resident of Ellicott City, Maryland, was reported missing on January 2 after failing to be heard from since New Year’s Eve. Her disappearance triggered a search that culminated in police executing a search warrant at Sharma’s apartment in Columbia, Maryland, where her body was found on January 3 with multiple stab wounds. Investigators believe she was killed shortly after 7 pm on December 31.
Sharma, who initially made a missing-person report claiming last contact with Nikitha on the evening of December 31, boarded a flight to India on the same day he filed the report, raising immediate suspicions among investigators.
US police issued warrants charging him with first- and second-degree murder, prompting coordination with federal and international law enforcement agencies to locate and detain him.
Who was Nikitha Godishala?
Before her death, Nikitha had a promising professional career. She worked as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health, where she had been employed since February 2025 and was recognised for her strong performance, including earning the company’s “All-In Award” in a short span, according to her LinkedIn profile.
Cause of murder not known yet
The motive behind the killing remains unclear, with authorities stating that no concrete explanation for the attack has yet been determined. Police continue to investigate the circumstances leading up to Nikitha’s death, and her family has appealed for justice and cooperation between US and Indian officials.
The Indian Embassy in Washington has confirmed it is in contact with Nikitha’s family and providing consular assistance, while also coordinating with local authorities as the case progresses.
