Hyderabad police arrest Arjun Sharma in cheating case, execute extradition warrant in US murder probe

Hyderabad police have arrested Arjun Sharma, a Chennai native, in Agra in connection with a financial cheating case and executed a pending non-bailable warrant linked to an alleged murder in Maryland, USA. Sharma, accused of killing his colleague Nikitha Godishala in 2024 and later fleeing to India, has been remanded to judicial custody in Tihar Jail following coordination with FBI and Interpol.

Hyderabad: The Lalaguda police have arrested Arjun Sharma (27), who is wanted in a financial cheating case registered in the city and also subsequently executed a non-bailable warrant issued against him in connection with an alleged murder case registered by police in Maryland in USA two years ago. 

Arjun Sharma, a native of Chennai who was staying in Agra, was arrested by a special team from Lalaguda police. He was traced to Agra following technical analysis and intelligence gathering, police said.

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The case has its roots in the alleged murder of Nikitha Godishala, 27, who had moved to the US in 2022 for higher studies.

According to police, Nikitha and Arjun, who were colleagues, lived together in Halethorpe, Maryland, until 2024.

Police alleged that Arjun and his mother, Rachana Sharma, borrowed substantial amounts from Nikitha and her family on the pretext of financial difficulties but allegedly had no intention of repaying the money.

Police further alleged that Arjun later called Nikitha to his apartment in Columbia, Maryland, claiming that he wanted to settle the financial dispute.

He allegedly attacked her with a knife and locked her inside the apartment.

On January 1, 2026, he allegedly filed a false missing person report with Maryland Police before fleeing to India.

After reaching India, Arjun allegedly used Nikitha’s phone number and debit card to make unauthorised transfers from her bank account, police said.

Following a complaint from Nikitha’s father, Anand Godishala, Lalaguda police registered a case and took up investigation.

A special team traced Arjun to Agra, where he was nabbed with assistance from Ekta Police Station. He was initially served notice under Section 35(3) of the BNSS in the Hyderabad cheating case.

During coordination with the FBI and CBI/Interpol, Delhi, police learnt that an extradition-related NBW was pending against Arjun in the US murder case.

The warrant, issued by the court in New Delhi and he was further remanded to judicial custody in Tihar Jail.