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A Telugu-American woman is found dead in Maryland, her ex-boyfriend vanishes only to be arrested weeks later in Tamil Nadu. How did US and Indian authorities track him down? The shocking story behind the cross-continental hunt unfolds.
The motive behind the crime is still unknown as the probe continues
Chennai: An international manhunt by Interpol for the killer of a Telugu-American woman ended in Tamil Nadu after the accused, Arjun Sharma, was arrested for the murder of Nikitha Godishala in the United States. Sharma, 26, had fled to India shortly after the crime, prompting cross-border investigations and collaboration between US and Indian authorities.
Nikitha Rao Godishala, 27, a data analyst based in Maryland, was reported missing on January 2. Her disappearance came after her former boyfriend, Sharma, contacted the Howard County Police, claiming he last saw her on New Year’s Eve. Authorities immediately noted discrepancies in his account.
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Investigations revealed that Sharma had left the United States for India the same day he filed the missing person report, raising immediate red flags. Police issued a search warrant for Sharma’s apartment on Twin Rivers Road in Columbia, Maryland. On January 3, Godishala’s body was discovered inside the apartment, bearing multiple stab wounds, suggesting a violent domestic attack.
Following the discovery, the case was officially classified as a homicide. Howard County Police issued arrest warrants against Sharma for first-degree and second-degree murder. While the motive is still under investigation, officials suspect the killing was domestic in nature.
Godishala had been working as a Data and Strategy Analyst at Vheda Health since February 2025 and was recently awarded the company’s “All-In Award” for her performance. She lived independently in Ellicott City, Maryland, at the time of her death.
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US federal agencies coordinated with Indian authorities to track Sharma, leading to his arrest in Tamil Nadu by Interpol after sustained surveillance and intelligence sharing. Formal extradition proceedings are expected to follow.
The Indian Embassy in the United States confirmed that it was in touch with Godishala’s family and providing consular assistance. Authorities also clarified that an individual shown in a circulating image linked to the case is not the accused, amid social media speculation.
The arrest brings a significant breakthrough in a case that had raised concerns internationally and highlights growing cooperation between law enforcement agencies across borders.
