Court Approves Motion to Waive Preliminary Hearing in Naresh Bhatt Case Amid Ongoing Investigation into Wife’s Disappearance

The court has approved a motion filed by Naresh Bhatt, who is in custody for allegedly concealing the body of his wife, Mamta Kafle. Naresh sought to waive the preliminary hearing scheduled for October 24, a request that was granted on Thursday after prosecutors did not oppose the motion.

During the 9 a.m. hearing, Naresh was present in court, accompanied by his defense team. Waiving the preliminary hearing may expedite the legal process. They aim to push the case directly to the next phase, potentially a grand jury trial. With the motion granted, the October 24 hearing is now canceled, and the case is expected to move forward.

The cancellation of the preliminary hearing may limit the time prosecutors have to gather additional evidence. Naresh’s defense seems to be strategizing to minimize public scrutiny, as preliminary hearings typically draw more attention to the case. The defense is likely hoping to lessen the pressure on the prosecution as the case progresses.

Outside the Prince William County Judicial Center, supporters of Mamta gathered, continuing their vigil for justice since she went missing. The community’s support remains steadfast, and Mamta’s mother and brother have arrived in the U.S., where they’ve also met with Mamta’s young daughter.

Meanwhile, the Manassas Park police in Virginia, who are leading the investigation into Mamta’s disappearance, conducted a search of the home she shared with Naresh and their daughter. Manassas Park Police Chief Mario Lugo confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with assistance from federal partners, including the FBI and Secret Service, along with local police from Loudon and Fairfax counties.

The police have not disclosed what they found during the search, but they are continuing to investigate all possible locations for evidence. Authorities have indicated that additional charges could be brought against Naresh Bhatt, who was arrested for allegedly hiding Mamta’s body.

In a previous hearing on Monday, the court denied Naresh’s request for bail, citing concerns that he might flee or pose a danger to the community. Naresh’s lawyer argued that since Mamta’s body has not been found, there’s no solid reason to hold him without bail. However, the judge ruled against releasing him.

It was also revealed during the Monday hearing that, months before Mamta’s disappearance, Naresh had searched online for information on how soon one could remarry after a spouse’s death. Prosecutor Sarah Sami informed the court that blood found in the master bedroom and bathroom of the couple’s home suggested Mamta had suffered life-threatening injuries, and that the evidence pointed to her likely being deceased. This, Sami argued, could lead to murder charges even without a body.

The defense argued that the charges against Naresh stem from public outcry rather than concrete evidence. Naresh’s lawyer, Shalev Ben Abraham, suggested that the police acted under pressure from the media and public, leading to his client’s arrest.

Prosecutor Sami countered that the evidence, including blood found at the scene and Naresh’s internet search history, was sufficient to pursue further charges. Although the blood has not been definitively identified as Mamta’s, preliminary tests confirm it is human.

Naresh’s defense maintains that he has no intention of fleeing, pointing to his recent sale of a Tesla and discussions about selling the family home as merely efforts to secure funds for his family.

Further details about the couple’s troubled relationship were shared in court, with the prosecutor recounting an incident in February when police were called to their home. At that time, Mamta had reported domestic violence, and Naresh was accused of withholding documents and destroying her phone.

Prosecutors also noted that Mamta, an active social media user, stopped using her phone on July 29, and the phone was last connected to a network in Loudon County on August 1. Blood traces were discovered in the master bedroom during a police search, along with signs that something had been dragged from the bedroom to the bathroom.

The prosecutor described the crime scene, revealing that investigators found a significant amount of blood in the bathroom, unlike anything they had encountered before. Cleaning materials, including an empty bottle of carpet cleaner purchased by Naresh on July 31, were also found in the bedroom.

Naresh had previously appeared in court on Friday, where prosecutors shared more details, including his purchase of three knives on July 30 and cleaning supplies on July 31. Two of the knives remain unaccounted for, and investigators suspect the cleaning materials were used to sanitize the crime scene. Naresh’s statements about Mamta’s disappearance have been inconsistent, and prosecutors noted that he was unemployed at the time she went missing.

Court documents state that Naresh is accused of killing Mamta on or around July 30, 2024, at their residence. The documents also mention the recovery of significant digital and forensic evidence consistent with her death, indicating that her body was inside the house and later removed.

Naresh faces a sixth-degree felony charge for concealing a body, which in Virginia carries a potential prison sentence of one to five years. He was arrested last Thursday morning after a nighttime search of the house.

Mamta’s whereabouts remain unknown, and police have found no signs that she is alive. When police first inquired about Mamta’s whereabouts on August 2, Naresh initially did not report her as missing. It wasn’t until August 5 that he contacted the police.