Vikas Yadav blames media for swaying his trial

New Delhi, Aug 4: Vikas Yadav, who is serving life sentence in Nitish Katara murder case, on Monday, Aug 4 blamed the media for influencing his trial.

Senior Counsel Mukul Rohatagi, appearing for the petitioner, made the allegation before the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam. Vikas Yadav, son of former Rajya Sabha member D P Yadav, is seeking transfer of his appeal outside Delhi to avoid media glare. The judges asked the petitioner's counsel that media was everywhere and how could one avoid it outside Delhi. The apex court, however, directed the Government counsel to file response to the petition seeking transfer of the appeal to any high court outside Delhi.

Kamini Jaiswal, counsel for Neelam Katara, mother of the deceased, however, opposed the petition on the grounds that allegations against media were being made without making any television channel or newspaper party to the petition and the right to information was integral part of fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression in the country.

The apex court granted three weeks time to the Government to file its response.

UNI