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Chennai: A 26-year-old Indian man, wanted in the United States for the alleged murder of his 27-year-old ex-girlfriend, was arrested in Tamil Nadu by Interpol and local police, bringing an international manhunt to a dramatic close. The accused, Arjun Sharma, is alleged to have stabbed to death Nikita Godishala, an Indian-American data analyst from Maryland, before fleeing to India.
The case began when Nikita Godishala, a healthcare professional originally from Secunderabad, Telangana, was reported missing on January 2. The last confirmed sighting of Godishala was on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025, at Sharma’s apartment in Columbia, Maryland. Ironically, it was Arjun Sharma himself who initially filed the missing person report with the Howard County Police.
Flight to India and Grisly Discovery
Investigations took a critical turn when authorities discovered that shortly after reporting her missing, Sharma had boarded a flight to India. Acting on this lead and growing suspicion, US police secured a warrant and searched his Maryland apartment on January 3. There, they discovered Godishala’s body with multiple stab wounds.
Following this discovery, first-degree and second-degree murder charges were filed against Arjun Sharma, and an arrest warrant was issued. The US Department of Justice, through Interpol, initiated a Red Notice and coordinated with Indian authorities to locate the fugitive.
Coordinated Arrest in Tamil Nadu
The international cooperation led to Sharma’s location and arrest in Tamil Nadu. While the exact location of his capture within the state has not been disclosed, Indian authorities, acting on the Interpol alert, took him into custody. The arrest prevents a potentially lengthy extradition process under the US-India extradition treaty, which can often take several months to navigate.
Victim Remembered as Accomplished Professional
Nikita Godishala is remembered as a highly accomplished individual. She held a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University in India and later earned a Master’s degree in Health Information Technology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She worked as a data analyst in the healthcare sector.
The Indian Embassy in Washington has stated it is providing consular assistance to Godishala’s grieving family. The case has sent shockwaves through the Indian diaspora community in the US and highlights the mechanisms of international police cooperation in pursuing fugitives across borders. Sharma is expected to be processed by Indian judiciary before formal extradition proceedings to the United States begin.
