Nikitha Godishala was found dead in the US on Monday, January 5, 2026. Her father, Anand Godishala, called for harsh punishment for the man accused in her death. Anand said Arjun Sharma, 26, the suspect, was not Nikitha's ex-boyfriend but her former roommate. He asked the Centre and Telangana government to help bring Nikitha's body home. Nikitha, 27, went missing on January 2. Police from Howard County said she was found with stab wounds in Arjun Sharma's apartment in Columbia, Maryland. The US police have a warrant to arrest Sharma for first- and second-degree murder. Sharma reportedly fled to India after the incident. Anand said Nikitha last spoke to him on December 31 and wished him a happy new year. Anand told reporters, "He (Arjun Sharma) is a former roommate and not her ex-boyfriend. He reportedly made the complaint (to the police in US) and fled to India. He should be caught and given tough punishment." Anand also said his daughter knew Sharma had taken loans and planned to leave the US. Nikitha lived in the US for four years and last visited India three years ago. Nikitha's uncle, Santosh Kumar, told PTI she worked as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health after finishing her MS in the US. She won the Best Employee award last month. Nikitha's death was reported to the family by her cousin in the US. Anand's family lives in Tarnaka, Hyderabad. Union Coal Minister G Kishan Reddy expressed sadness over Nikitha's death. He spoke to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to bring the body back quickly. Kishan Reddy said on X, "I extend my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family in this hour of grief. I have spoken to the Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, who is currently on official tour in Germany, and am personally in touch with the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure that the mortal remains are repatriated to India at the earliest." Kishan Reddy added his office and BJP in Hyderabad are helping Nikitha's family during this tough time. Nikitha and her family are from Secunderabad, the minister's Lok Sabha constituency.