The court trying the Nitish Katara murder case on Thursday sought an explanation from D P Yadav, former MP and father of main accused Vikas Yadav, for commenting on the merit of the case and asked him to file his response by October 16.Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur took exception to Yadav's comment on the merits of the case in a press conference called by him on Tuesday where he said that Ajay Katara was planted as a key witness by the prosecution.The court passed the direction after taking cognisance of an application by Neelam Katara, the victim's mother, who alleged that Yadav had violated the court's order passed in December last year which specifically prohibited any body, except the prosecutor to comment on the merits of the case and the witnesses.She further said that it was the court's prerogative to take note of the veracity of the witnesses and no other party should be allowed to step into domain of the judge.Seeking directions that Yadav should be restricted from talking on the merits of the case and the witnesses, she supplanted her application with the newspaper reports in which Yadav was quoted as taking a dig at a key witness and demanding a CBI probe in the case.Yadav had said that Ajay Katara was a planted witness and a kin of Neelam.Yadav, who was present in the court during the final arguments was handed over the application and was directed to furnish his explanation on October 16. Meanwhile, the prosecution on Thursday read out from the testimonies of two constables to prove that Katara was last seen in a car with Vikas, Vishal and Sukhdev Pehlwan on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002.According to the prosecution, one of the constables Inderjeet could also identify Nitish in the vehicle when shown to him the victim's photograph.The prosecution would continue its arguments on the last scene evidence on Friday as it would read the testimony of Ajay Katara.Vikas and Vishal have been accused of kidnapping and murdering Nitish after taking him from a marriage function in Ghaziabad on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002, as they were unhappy over his growing affinity with Vikas's sister Bharti Yadav.
