SC seeks explanation for threatening PP in Katara murder case

New Delhi, Dec 4 (UNI) The Supreme Court today strongly disapproved of issuance of a legal notice to Chief Public Prosecutor B S Joon, who is conducting the Nitish Katara murder case, demanding Rs 20 crore in damages and directed Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav, the main accused in the case, to explain under what circumstances such a notice was issued.

A Bench comprising Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice D K Jain issued the directions during the hearing of petitions seeking cancellation of the bail granted to Vishal Yadav by the Delhi High Court.

Neelam Katara, the mother of Nitish Katara, had filed an application in the court bringing the notice to the notice of the court alleging that it was tantamount to indirectly threatening the Public Prosecutor, who has since been provided a security cover by the Delhi Police.

Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium informed the court that such a notice amounted to contempt of court and is an additional ground for the cancellation of bail as it is an attempt to obstruct the course of justice.

The damages notice was issued against Mr Joon for talking to the media on July 17 about Bharti Yadav coming to India and also the letter faxed by her.

The notice was issued on November 6 while the incident relates to July 17.

The court gave two weeks to Vishal Yadav to give an explanation for the issuance of the notice.

Nitish Katara was allegedly murdered by Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha Member D P Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Pahalwan for allegedly having an affair with Vikas's sister Bharti Yadav, which Bharti's family disapproved of.

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