Nitish Katara murder: Court seeks Vikas Yadav's health records

The Delhi High Court Wednesday sought Nitish Katara murder convict Vikas Yadav's medical records from Tihar Jail authorities on a plea filed by the victim's mother.

"Ever since Vikas was convicted and sentenced to life, he has made 87 visits to AIIMS and other hospitals besides the fact that there was no court order to refer him to AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)," Neelam Katara said in her petition.

The division bench of Justice Gita Mittal and Justice V.K. Shali said: "The jail superintendent is hereby directed to produce all the relevant medical records of convict Vikas Yadav." The court would next hear the matter Thursday.

Vikas Yadav, son of Uttar Pradesh politician D.P. Yadav, was convicted in 2008 along with his cousin Vishal for kidnapping and murdering Nitish Katara, a close friend of his sister Bharti.

The duo killed Katara, son of an Indian Administrative Service officer, on the night of Feb 17, 2002 after abducting him from a marriage party in Ghaziabad as they were opposed to his relationship with Bharti.

Neelam Katara said in her petition that Vikas Yadav, serving life sentence, visited hospitals 87 times by misusing his financial and political influence. She sought a direction to the jail authorities and AIIMS to present records relating to Vikas Yadav's ailments and his visits to the hospital.

The court said: "The jail superintendent is also directed to file a report as to whether other inmates have also been permitted to visit hospitals like Vikas Yadav.”
Neelam Katara sought directions from the court so that the convict may not misuse his  financial and political influence to get the privilege of medical treatment at premiere hospitals like AIIMS for the treatment of diseases like tuberculosis.

The high court also issued notices to Delhi Police and others on appeals against the trial court’s order awarding life imprisonment to Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav. The convicts have moved the high court seeking reversal of the trial court's findings in the case, while police and Neelam Katara filed appeals for award of death penalty to  the convicts. The court would take up the appeals for hearing March 22.