New York, Dec 04 (V7N) — Alia Fakhri, the sister of Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri, has been arrested in Queens, New York, on charges of double murder. The incident reportedly involved the deaths of her ex-boyfriend Edward Jacobs and his girlfriend Anastasia Etienne, who were burned to death in a fire allegedly set by Alia out of jealousy.

According to reports from local media and the Times of India, Edward Jacobs and Anastasia Etienne tragically died from smoke inhalation after a fire engulfed Alia's home in Queens. Authorities claim that Alia, unable to accept Edward's relationship with Anastasia, intentionally started the fire.

"This defendant maliciously ended the lives of two people in a fire," said Melinda Katz, District Attorney for Queens. She confirmed that both victims succumbed to smoke inhalation during the tragic incident.

Alia Fakhri has been denied bail and remains in custody. The Queens Court has rejected her bail plea, citing the severity of the charges.

While Bollywood actress Nargis Fakhri has not commented on the incident, her mother, Marie Fakhri, defended her daughter, stating, "My daughter cannot kill anyone. She has always cared for and helped others."

Nargis and Alia were born and raised in Queens, New York. Their father, Muhammad Fakiri, was of Pakistani origin, and their mother, Marie, is a former police officer of Czech descent. The sisters faced a challenging childhood, including their parents' divorce when Nargis was just six years old.

Nargis Fakhri gained fame in Bollywood with her debut in Rockstar (2011), opposite Ranbir Kapoor, but has been less active in acting in recent years.

The case has garnered significant media attention, given the high-profile nature of the accused’s family ties. Further legal proceedings are awaited.

END/RH/AJ