New Delhi, Feb 14: Vikas and Vishal Yadav, accused in the murder case of Nitish Katara, today filed a petition in the Delhi High Court seeking transfer of the case from the court of Additional Sessions Judge S N Dhingra alleging that they might not get a fair trial in his court. Issuing notice to the prosecution, Justice R C Chopra sought the copies of the orders and evidence on record about the case from the trial court and fixed the next date of hearing on the matter for February 18. Vikas' counsel K N Balgopal alleged that various unfortunate incidents have taken place during the proceedings before judge Dhingra and as a consequence, the accused, son and nephew of Rajya Sabha member D P Yadav, seriously apprehend that they may not get a fair trial. The accused submitted that the ASJ has been persistently snubbing and insulting their counsel in open court and they were not given a single minute for arguments on charge which was mandatory requirement before the framing of charges.


The counsel contended that proper procedure was not followed while recording the evidence of prosecution witnesses due to which it has become difficult to cross-examine them.


A similar plea of the accused was rejected by the district judge on Feb 3 and they have sought quashing of that order.


The case was registered in Ghaziabad. Prosecution has alleged that the accused had kidnapped Katara from a marriage party in Ghaziabad and murdered him on Feb 17 last year as they did not like his friendship with their sister.


The case was transferred here on Supreme Court direction as victim's mother Neelam Katara had pleaded that she did not expect fair trial at Ghaziabad alleging that the accused were threatening the witnesses. Bureau Report