Naresh Bhatt trial in Virginia: Friend alleges abuse, financial control in Nepali woman Mamta Kafle Bhatt’s disappearance case, mother breaks down in court

A close friend of Mamta Kafle Bhatt testified that her husband, Naresh Bhatt, allegedly hit and controlled her in the months before she disappeared from their Virginia home in July 2024. Mamta’s mother also took the stand, recounting how her daily conversations with her daughter suddenly stopped.A close friend of Mamta Kafle Bhatt told a Virginia court that Naresh Bhatt had physically abused and controlled his wife in the months before she disappeared, as prosecutors presented witness testimony in his murder trial.Sarita Neupane, a friend of Mamta, testified that she had seen her distressed several months before her disappearance and brought her into her home. Mamta subsequently stayed with Neupane for nearly two weeks while experiencing marital difficulties with Naresh, according to testimony reported by local media.Neupane told the court that Naresh had allegedly hit Mamta during an argument over household cleaning, leaving a large bruise on her face. The injury was so visible that Mamta had to reschedule a traditional ceremony marking the couple’s daughter’s first consumption of solid food, the friend testified.The testimony offered jurors a glimpse into the couple’s relationshi...