New Delhi

Delhi High Court seeks explanation from Vikas Yadav

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday asked Vikas Yadav, prime accused in the Nitish Katara murder case, to explain to it why the Delhi Government could not be made a party in his appeal against his conviction by a trial court here in May this year. Yadav has made the Uttar Pradesh Government a party in his appeal on grounds that the crime had occurred in the Ghaziabad district in the State and it was its public prosecutor who had assisted the Court in the trial.

A Division Bench of the Court comprising Justice Anil Kumar and Justice V.K. Shali asked Yadav to file an affidavit to its query before November 17. Vikas Yadav had last Thursday moved the High Court challenging his conviction, following rejection of his petition by the Supreme Court seeking permission to file an appeal in any High Court other than the Delhi High Court.

The Supreme Court had earlier this month rejected his petition saying that there was no merit in it.

Earlier, the Allahabad High Court had refused to hear his appeal, saying that it did not lie in its jurisdiction.

Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member D.P. Yadav, and his cousin, Vishal Yadav, were tried and convicted by a sessions court. The court had sentenced both to life imprisonment.

The Supreme Court had transferred the case to a court here on a petition by Neelam Katara, mother of deceased Nitish Katara. She had taken the plea that she would not get justice in Uttar Pardesh as she had an apprehension that the family members of the accused might use their clout to influence the trial in Ghaziabad. Vikas and Vishal Yadav faced trial and were held guilty for allegedly abducting Nitish Katara, son of a former IAS officer, and later killing him in 2002 because they were allegedly against their sister Bharti having an affair with him.

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