Date:30/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/30/stories/2007053016780400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Chitralekha Urs murder trial begins

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: After being put off on three occasions, the trial of the high-profile Chitralekha Urs murder case finally began on Tuesday even as an attempt was made to postpone it yet again.

Fast Track Court Judge Savitri Vinayaka turned down the plea of R. Naidu, advocate for Bharati Urs, seeking adjournment of the case by a day because of the absence of senior counsel C.V. Nagesh on personal reasons.

Special Public Prosecutor K. Janardhan objected and said the trial had already been adjourned on three earlier occasions. He told the court that the three accused — Bharathi Urs, T. Madhukar and L.N. Chandrakant — were in judicial custody since March 2004.

The Judge asked Mr. Janardhan to cite the evidence of Hema Mandanna, elder sister of the slain Chitralekha Urs.Hema Mandanna said the victim Chitralekha Urs was with Bharati Urs, one of the three accused, before she went missing on January 19, 2004.

Ms. Mandanna said she later found that Chitralekha could not be reached on the two mobile phones. After enquiring with Bharati Urs and Chitralekha Urs's friends, she went ahead and filed a complaint with the High Grounds police station late on January 19 night.

Ms. Mandanna said Bharati Urs, daughter of her father's cousin and former Chief Minister Devaraja Urs, had prevented her from filing any complaint about the missing Chitralekha. Ms. Mandanna did not heed her advice and went ahead in filing the complaint.