Katara murder case: Cops forced accused to sign blank papers

NEW DELHI: A Ghaziabad-based lawyer, who appeared as a witness for accused Vikas and Vishal Yadav in the Nitish Katara murder case, on Friday claimed in a court here that investigators had 'forcibly' obtained signatures on several blank papers during custodial interrogation of the two accused.

"He (Vishal) had informed me that Uttar Pradesh police officers had obtained his and Vikas's signatures on many blank papers," Raj Kumar Yadav, who had appeared for Vishal after his arrest in the case, told Additional Sessions Judge
Ravinder Kaur.

Deposing as the fifth defence witness, Yadav, however, said that Vishal did not execute any 'power of attorney' in his favour to represent him in the case.

In a bid to falsify the prosecution claim, he said 'it is incorrect to suggest that on February 28, 2002, the accused persons got the hammer (weapon of offence) and wrist watch (allegedly belonging to deceased Katara) recovered."

At the same time, Yadav said he did not accompany the accused during their three-day custodial interrogation which began on February 27.

It was decided amongst the lawyers, representing the Yadavs, that only Vikas's counsel, Rajender Chaudhary, would accompany the accused, he said.

He also told the court that the hammer and the wrist watch were not recovered in the presence of one Satyapal Yadav, an advocate, as claimed by the prosecution.

The court then posted the matter to July 17 for recording the testimony of another defence witness.