New Delhi, Dec 10: A city court hearing the Nitish Katara murder case today reserved its order on a plea made by key witness Bharti Yadav to have her evidence recorded by way of video conferencing from the UK where she is reportedly studying. Additional sessions judge J M Malik reserved his order on the application moved by Bharti, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP D P Yadav, for December 23.
Firmly opposing the plea, special public prosecutor S K Saxena said the application was yet another attempt to delay the trial. He said the witness was citing one or the other reason to avoid appearance in court ever since she was first summoned six months ago.
Bharti is a very important witness in the case as it is her relation with the deceased business executive that police cites as motive for the murder.
Presence of the witness was needed, as she had to be confronted with many greeting cards allegedly exchanged by the duo, a watch which she had reportedly gifted Nitish besides the video of a press conference which she had held soon after the murder in February 2002, Saxena said.
However, putting forth Bharti's case, her counsel C K Sharma said changes had already been made in the statute to accept electronic records and that it would in no way prejudice the trial if the video conferencing was allowed.
Vikas and Vishal Yadav, son and nephew of the MP are standing trial in the case for allegedly kidnapping Nitish from a marriage party and murdering him on February 16, 2002. Bureau Report