MHA files reply on Bharti's deportation in Katara murder case

New Delhi, May 11 (UNI) The Union government today filed its reply on the whereabouts of Bharti Yadav, a key witness in the sensational Nitish Katara murder case.

Appearing before the Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Ravinder Kaur, Under Secretary in the Home Ministry Ramesh Kumar, who was ordered to appear in person today, submitted, that Bharti was not residing at 32 , Swalin court, London and as a result the warrants could not be served upon her. He also submitted that, the UK Central Authority was apprised by the immigration department that the last known address of Bharti was 60, Fredrim Road, Leicester.'' The counsel for the accused Vikas Yadav had requested the court and sought for 2-3 days adjournment since they were considering the suggestions of the court given on May 3 for bringing back Bharti to depose in the court. The court accepted the request and fixed May 16 for the next date of hearing and said to file their necessary arrangements for Bharti's security, if any way she would come to India.

The complainant, Neelam Katara has filed two applications for initiating contempt of court proceedings aganst Bharti's father D P Yadav for allegedly giving contemptious statements against the court in the programme "Aap Ki Adalat", a programme aired on India TV.

Earlier, on April 27, the court had issued a notice against Mr Kumar for not executing the non-bailable warrant (NBW) against Ms Bharti issued on March 7.

Ms Bharti, a key witness in the case is at present doing a professional course in London. She did not come to depose in the case citing some pleas. She was one of the last to have met her close friend Nitish. The prosecution believes that the recording of her statement in the court would reveal the motive behind the crime.

Ms Bharti allegedly had an affair with Nitish, the son of a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer. Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav the brother and cousin of Bharti, are facing trial in the case for allegedly kidnapping and murdering Nitish Katara on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002, from Ghaziabad where Nitish had gone to attend a marriage party.

The prosecution has alleged that they killed him because they did not like his relationship with Bharti.

It was also alleged by the prosecution that Vikas had masterminded the killing of Nitish after learning about Nitish's affair with his sister at a marriage party at Ghaziabad.

Vikas and Vishal were booked under Sections 302 (Murder), 364 (Kidnapping) and 201 (Destruction of Evidence) and 34 (Common Intention to Commit a Crime) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

UNI XC SHB DB2038