The Hindu : Karnataka News : Plea to send Bharati Urs to jail

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 08, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Plea to send Bharati Urs to jail

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ordered issue of notice to Bharati Urs, daughter of the late D. Devaraj Urs, former Chief Minister, on a petition seeking her transfer back to jail.

The petitioner, Sharada Chandrakant Raj Urs, wife of the late M.P. Chandrakant Raj Urs, former Judge of the Karnataka High Court, said that on February 28 the court had permitted Bharati to undergo medical treatment at any of the three private hospitals of her choice.

Bharati and others had been arrested by the High Grounds police for allegedly being involved in the murder of her cousin, Chitralekha Urs, daughter of Sharada and Chandrakant Raj Urs.

According to police, Bharati had taken a loan of Rs. 65 lakhs from Chitralekha and had not repaid it, though she had issued post-dated cheques and promissory notes.

On January 19, 2004, Bharati had allegedly called Chitralekha to an office in High Grounds police station limits. Bharati, the police alleged, had hired T. Madhukumar and L.N. Chandrakanth to murder Chitralekha. The strangled body of Chitralekha was found near the Shiradi Ghat in Hassan district.

Bharati's bail plea in the Additional Sessions Court is still pending. She also moved the High Court for bail, saying she had eight blockages in her heart and wanted to take treatment in a hospital of her choice. She did not want to take treatment in a Government hospital or a hospital selected by the Government. The Government said it would take care of Bharati`s medical problem. It said she could be admitted in a Government hospital and granted her three months time to undergo the operation.

When the matter came up, the petitioner said the time-frame fixed by the court had lapsed and Bharati had not undergone any operation. Moreover, she was still in hospital, though under custody. She urged the court to send back Bharati to jail.

Justice A.C. Kabbin adjourned further hearing on the matter to June 20 and ordered issue of notice.

Meanwhile, the Sessions Judge, John d' Cunha, has directed Bharati to be present in the court on June 16 as it will be framing charges against her in the Chitralekha murder case.

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