Katara murder: Court sets up panel to probe convicts' hospital visits

New Delhi, March 23 (IANS) Taking serious note of allegations that Nitish Katara murder convict Vikas Yadav, who visited AIIMS for treatment, left the hospital Diwali night without informing the staff, the Delhi High Court Friday set up a panel to probe if his visit was justified.

Acting on the complaint of Katara's mother Neelam, a division bench of Justice Gita Mittal and Justice V.K. Shali ordered a medical committee of army doctors to examine medical records of both convicts - Vikas and Vishal Yadav - to examine how many of their numerous visits from Tihar Jail to various hospitals were required.

Seeking the expert committee's report within four weeks, the court said: "An independent committee is required to evaluate the medical records of both Vikas and Vishal to ascertain which medical visits were warranted and which were not."

The medical superintendent of Army's Research and Referral (R & R) Hospital has been asked to set up a board of doctors to evaluate the medical records of both the convicts, said the court.

The medical superintendent of AIIMS and Batra hospitals have been asked to ensure every cooperation to the committee, the bench said.

Placing the medical records of AIIMS before the bench, Katara's advocate alleged Vikas was not in his room on Diwali night (Oct 26, 2011).

"Vikas had left the hospital at 8.30 p.m. and came back next morning but the sister who was on duty was not informed either by the patient or the policemen who were with him."

"This is something very serious," the bench said after going through the documents submitted by advocate in support of his allegation.

The advocate also informed the court that many times Vishal Yadav was advised discharge but he remained hospitalised on one pretext and other and especially for non-payment of the bill.

"Vishal Yadav was granted bail on October 2005 and after conviction went to custody on May 2008. As per record during this period of two and a half years, he did not visit Batra hospital," the advocate alleged.

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 Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad as they were opposed to his relationship with Bharti.

The court was hearing the plea filed by Katara's mother alleging that Vishal visited Batra hospital more than 40 times and Vikas visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) more than 80 times since their conviction in 2008 by misusing their financial and political influence.