Bharti returns to depose in Nitish Katara murder case

Noida, Nov 25 (UNI) Key witness in Nitish Katara murder case, Bharti Yadav, has arrived in the country to depose before a Delhi court on November 29.

She had arrived and safely put up at a secured farmhouse, sources close to the family said here this evening.

Her lawyers would be meeting her before the court appearance, they added.

She had come to India on government expense and was not to be taken into custody on her arrival as per directions of Delhi High Court.

Bharti was to give her testimony in the case at the Patiala House Court on November 29. However, the deposition would be in-camera and the public and the press would be kept away.

Her statement could be crucial in proving the motive behind Nitish Katara's murder.

Nitish Katara was kidnapped and murdered on the night of February 16-17, 2002, from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, where he had gone to attend a marriage.

Bharti's brother Vikas -- son of former Rajya Sabha MP D P Yadav -- and cousin Vishal were the prime suspects in the murder, who allegedly objected to her relationship with Nitish.

Bharti had left the country after the murder supposedly to pursue studies in London. And she did not appear before the court since then despite repeated summons, bailable and non-bailable warrants.

Her passport had been revoked by the Ministry of External Affairs earlier this year for failing to appear in the court in India.

Special travel documents had been arranged for Bharti to come. And a fresh passport would be issued to her after she made her deposition.

The court had rejected her lawyers' application that she may be allowed to depose via vedio-conferencing.

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