Arjun Sharma, Columbia Maryland Man Who Killed Ex-Girlfriend Nikitha Godishala, Arrested in Tamil Nadu After Fleeing U.S.

Arjun Sharma, a 26-year-old Columbia, Maryland man, has been arrested in Tamil Nadu, India in connection with the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend, 27-year-old Nikitha Godishala, of Ellicott City, Maryland. The arrest follows an international manhunt coordinated by Interpol and U.S. federal authorities.

Timeline of the Incident

Authorities launched the search after Howard County officials reported that Sharma filed a missing persons report on January 2, claiming that Godishala had been missing since New Year’s Eve. He stated that he last saw her at his apartment on Twin Rivers Road, Columbia.

Suspicion arose when it was reported that Sharma had left the United States for India the same day he filed the complaint. A search warrant was obtained for his apartment, and on January 3, investigators found Godishala’s body inside, bearing multiple stab wounds.

Following the discovery, Howard County authorities issued an arrest warrant for Sharma and initiated international efforts to locate him.

Arrest and Extradition

Sharma was apprehended in Tamil Nadu, India, with Interpol and local authorities coordinating closely with U.S. agencies. Extradition proceedings are expected to follow as authorities work to bring him back to face charges in the United States.

The Indian Embassy in the U.S. confirmed it is in contact with Godishala’s family, providing consular support, and clarified that some widely circulated social media images are not connected to the accused.

About the Victim

Nikitha Godishala worked as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health since February 2025. She had recently received the company’s “All-In Award” for her contributions, according to family sources.

The case has drawn significant public attention, highlighting the collaboration between U.S. and Indian law enforcement agencies in handling cross-border criminal investigations.