MANASSAS, Va. — Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s mother and a close friend testified Thursday, Oct. 8, in Naresh Bhatt’s murder trial, according to 7News/WJLA.
Through a translator, Gita Kafle told jurors she had not heard from her daughter since July 30, 2024, and did not know where she was.
“My daughter is missing. I came to look for her,”
The defense asked her no questions.
Sarita Neupane testified that Mamta had accused her husband of infidelity and physical abuse. Defense attorneys challenged portions of her testimony, but the judge overruled their objection.
Sgt. Brady Pellath testified that Naresh Bhatt reported his wife missing on Aug. 5, 2024. Under cross-examination, Pellath acknowledged that Bhatt asked about checks of hospitals and jails and followed up twice.
Claudia Ventura described investigating the disappearance and reviewing Mamta’s social media accounts.
Bhatt has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, concealing a dead body and defiling a dead body, NBC Washington reported. Mamta’s body has not been found.
