Nargis Fakhri’s sister Aliya arrested in New York for killing ex-boyfriend, his friend by setting garage on fire – Entertainment News

Aliya Fakhri, the sister of Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri, has been arrested in connection with a fatal fire that claimed the lives of two people in Jamaica, Queens, New York. She is facing first-degree murder charges and other related offenses, according to a statement from Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz.

The victims, identified as 35-year-old Edward Jacobs, Aliya’s ex-boyfriend, and 33-year-old Anastasia Ettienne, tragically died from smoke inhalation and burns after being trapped in Jacobs’ home. Authorities allege that Aliya set the fire in a detached garage near the home’s entrance, which led to the victims’ deaths.

Aliya Fakhri, 43, a resident of Parsons Boulevard in Queens, was arrested on November 27 after being indicted by a grand jury. She faces multiple charges, including four counts of first-degree murder, four counts of second-degree murder, and one count each of first and second-degree arson. 

If convicted of the most serious charges, she could face life imprisonment. Aliya’s next court appearance is set for December 9. Authorities have revealed that Aliya allegedly carried out the crime on November 2. She arrived at the two-story detached garage around 6:20 am and reportedly shouted at Edward, “You’re all going to die today.”

“Soon after, a witness who was inside the property came downstairs and discovered that the building was on fire. Ettienne was alerted to the fire and went downstairs briefly. The woman then returned upstairs in an attempt to save Jacobs, who was sleeping. The building became engulfed with flames and neither Jacobs nor Ettienne could escape,” Katz said in her statement.

According to a report in The New York Post, Jacobs was a plumber and father of three. He had ended his relationship with Aliya about a year ago; however, she allegedly continued to pursue him.

“Like any other person that is being rejected, he was letting her know like ‘Yo, I’m done with you. Get away from me.’ He’s been trying to tell her to leave him alone for the past year, but she wasn’t accepting the rejection,” NY Post quoted Jacobs’ mother as saying. She also clarified that Jacobs and Ettienne were friends and not romantically involved.

Aliya and Nargis Fakhri’s mother has denied the allegations, telling the New York Daily News that she does not believe Aliya was involved in the fire. “I don’t think she would be killing someone. She was a person who was caring for everybody,” she was quoted as saying, according to People reports.

Nargis Fakhri, who made her film debut starring opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali’s Rockstar (2011), has since appeared in several notable films, including Madras Cafe (2013), Main Tera Hero (2014), Housefull 3 (2016), Torbaaz (2020), and Shiv Shastri Balboa (2023), among others. She will next be seen in the Telugu film Hari Hara Veera Mallu: Part 1, starring Pawan Kalyan.