Nikitha Godishala, a 27-year-old Indian-American data analyst residing in Maryland, US, was found tragically murdered with stab wounds inside the apartment of her former flatmate, Arjun Sharma, aged 26. The incident is believed to have occurred shortly after 7 PM on December 31. Sharma, who initially reported Godishala missing on January 2, claiming he last saw her on New Year's Eve, suspiciously fled the United States for India on the very same day. Following an international manhunt, Arjun Sharma was apprehended by Interpol in Tamil Nadu, India, a result of collaborative efforts between US federal agencies and Indian authorities. Howard County police in the US have since issued an arrest warrant for Sharma, charging him with first- and second-degree murder. The victim's family has strongly alleged a financial motive behind the murder. Nikitha's sister, Saraswati, reported to the Indian Embassy in the US that Arjun Sharma made unauthorized financial transactions amounting to approximately USD 3,500 (around Rs 3.16 lakh) from Nikitha's bank account before his escape. Furthermore, Saraswati claimed that Sharma collectively owed Nikitha's family a total of USD 4,500 (approximately Rs 4.05 lakh). Nikitha's father, Anand Godishala, clarified that while police initially referred to Sharma as an 'ex-boyfriend,' he was in fact an 'ex-flatmate,' and the murder stemmed from financial disagreements, stating that Sharma attacked Nikitha when she asked for borrowed money back. This revelation shifts the focus from a purely romantic dispute to a deeper financial conflict, substantiating the claim of 'looted lakhs.'