Nikitha Godishala case: Family seeks privacy, says suspect still at large
HYDERABAD: The family of Nikitha Godishala, a Hyderabad woman found deceased in Maryland, USA, on December 31, 2025, has issued a statement to clarify facts, counter misinformation, and request privacy during what they describe as a period of irreparable loss.
The statement, released on Thursday, confirms that U.S. authorities have identified Arjun Sharma as the prime suspect. According to the family, Sharma filed a missing person report on January 1, 2026, and left the United States for India the next day. Godishala’s body and her vehicle were later recovered from Sharma’s residence at 10100 Twin Rivers Road, Columbia, Maryland.
The family was formally notified on January 4, 2026, at about 6:00 a.m. IST, that Godishala had sustained multiple stab wounds, and her death is believed to have occurred around 7:00 p.m. on December 31, 2025.
While Godishala was reported missing, unauthorized transactions were detected in her bank account. The family also states that Sharma contacted her friends and relatives multiple times seeking financial assistance, citing urgent personal and financial difficulties.
Suspect still at large
The family explicitly denied circulating reports of an arrest, stating that U.S. law enforcement agencies, including the Howard County Police Department, have confirmed the accused remains at large. “Any reports claiming an arrest are false,” the statement read.
As they prepare for her last rites to be conducted privately with police protection, the family has asked national and international media to exercise restraint, avoid publishing unverified information, and allow the investigation to proceed with dignity.
The family acknowledged the support of several officials and organizations, including the Indian Embassy in the United States, the Ministry of External Affairs, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Union Minister G. Kishan Reddy, BJP State President Ramchander Rao, and the Chief Minister’s Office in Hyderabad.
The family, through the statement, also expressed gratitude to community support groups such as Team Aid, ATA, OFBJP, and NRI volunteers, along with individuals including Sree Divya Vadlapudi, Govindarajulu, and Katikala Rajesh, who are assisting with coordination and repatriation efforts.
