Trial of an accused in Nitish Katara case nears conclusion

The trial of an accused in the Nitish Katara murder case, which was separated from that of other convicts Vikas and Vishal Yadav, has neared conclusion in Delhi court with both the parties wrapping up final arguments.

"Final arguments concluded from the defence counsel. The public prosecutor also advanced the rebuttal arguments," additional sessions judge JR Aryan said.

The court is hearing the eight-year-old murder case against Sukhdev Pehalwan, the third accused besides Vikas and his cousin Vishal Yadav.

The court, however, granted the prosecution and the defence an opportunity to file their written submissions.

"The written arguments be filed within 10 days and then the matter would be fixed for pronouncement of the judgment," it said.

Earlier, the court had granted an interim bail for four days to accused Pehalwan for performing last rites of his mother.

Pehalwan is being tried separately from Vikas and Vishal as he had absconded after the incident and was arrested in 2005.

A Delhi court had earlier awarded rigorous life imprisonment to Vikas and his cousin Vishal for their role in the murder of Nitish, a business executive.

The Yadavs have filed appeals in the Delhi high court against their conviction in the case.

According to the prosecution, Pehalwan was present with the Yadav duo in their car after they abducted Nitish from a marriage function in Ghaziabad and killed him on the night of February 16, 2002.

The two apparently did not approve of the affair of their sister Bharti Yadav with Nitish.