Crime08 October, 20262 min read
Prosecutors Say Naresh Bhatt Killed Mamta Kafle Bhatt, Tried To Get Rid Of Power Saw
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Prosecutors allege Naresh Bhatt killed and dismembered Mamta Bhatt after her July 2024 disappearance. Bhatt tried to dispose of key evidence by giving a power saw to a landscaper.
6 outlets told this the same way.
Abuse, control, disappearance
A close friend of Mamta Kafle Bhatt testified that Mamta’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, allegedly hit and controlled her in the months before she disappeared from their Virginia home in July 2024. Sarita Neupane told the court that Naresh allegedly shut off Mamta’s cellphone, restricted her access to money, and would not allow her to drive his car or get a vehicle of her own. Mamta’s mother, Gita Kafle, testified that she and Mamta spoke every day, usually in the morning and evening, until those conversations suddenly stopped in July 2024.
Kafle said she tried reaching Naresh after she could not reach Mamta for several days, and she testified that when he eventually spoke with her, he said Mamta had gone to stay with friends. Prosecutors told jurors that Naresh killed Mamta and dismembered her body before attempting to dispose of evidence, even though her remains have never been recovered.
Saw evidence and forensics
Prosecutors told jurors that Naresh Bhatt tried to get rid of a key piece of physical evidence by giving a power saw to a local landscaper shortly after Mamta went missing in July 2024. The landscaper turned the saw into police weeks later after hearing Bhatt had been arrested, and forensic examiners found Mamta’s blood and DNA inside the tool. Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Matthew Sweet told jurors that Naresh gave a saw to a landscaper after Mamta disappeared, and the landscaper later brought the saw to police.
Sweet said investigators took samples from the saw and that forensic testing matched Mamta Bhatt’s blood and DNA. Defense attorney Tracey Lenox argued that the prosecution must establish its case through evidence rather than speculation, and she told jurors there was a “black hole” at the time of Mamta Kafle’s disappearance.
Trial timeline and next steps
Judge Kimberly Irving presided as lawyers settled on 17 jurors for the trial, with the panel consisting of 11 women and six men.
Prosecutors presented opening statements in Prince William County Circuit Court, and they said the commonwealth would prove that Bhatt “killed, defiled and concealed” Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s body through both forensic and circumstantial evidence.
The trial was expected to span seven weeks, with every Friday off, and the court wrapped for the day just before 4:15 p.m. while it planned to resume at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.
Det. Claudia Ventura testified that she looked over body camera footage and other information taken when the missing person case was filed, and she said she changed Kafle Bhatt’s missing person status to “involuntary.”
Sgt. Brady Pellath testified that Naresh Bhatt wanted to report that his wife, Mamta, was missing, and Pellath told the court that Naresh said it was unlikely she would be gone this long and not return to her child.