Bharti Yadav, a key witness in the Nitish Katara murder case, on Wednesday morning appeared in the Patiala court premises under heavy security cover.

The court adjourned the deposition of Bharati Yadav, key witness in the Nitish Katara murder case, till Thursday. Bharti's deposition before Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur, held in-camera, concluded for the day.

Clad in a blue jeans and grey pullover and wrapping most of her face with a shawl, Bharti, who is said to be studying in London [Images], arrived at the court much before the scheduled start of the hearing to avoid the prying eyes of the media.

Barred from attending the proceedings, media was unable to know the contents of the deposition.

Neelam Katara, the complainant and mother of deceased Nitish Katara, has also been asked by the court not to speak to the press.

Nitish was found murdered near Bullandshahar in Uttar Pradesh on February 20, 2002, three days after he was last seen at a party with Bharti.

Nitish was seen walking away with Bharti's brother Vishal Yadav and her cousin Vikas Yadav.

The central government has paid for Bharti's expenses and provided her security under a directive from the Delhi high court.

The Delhi police have also made elaborate arrangements to keep the media away from the Patiala court complex.

Bharti's family is concerned about the way the media has reported the developments. "Bharti is just a witness and not an eye witness, as the media says. Nor was Nitish her boyfriend," claimed a person close to D P Yadav, Bharti's father.

Bharti's advocate S C Bhttan had on Tuesday told rediff.com that she is mentally fit to make a statement.

Her brother Vikas and cousin Vishal Yadav are the prime accused in the case.

Bharti had evaded questioning by the court for over four and a half years.

(With UNI and PTI inputs)