State has so far incurred Rs 5.86 crore in Katara case: report

The ongoing court proceedings and related actions in Nitish Katara murder case has so far cost a whooping Rs Rs 5.86 crore to the state exchequer, the Delhi Legal Service Authority (DLSA) today told the Delhi High Court.
Additional District Judge and OSD to DLSA, Surinder S Rathi, submitted the report before a bench of justices Gita Mittal and J R Midha on the cost incurred by the state and the judiciary under various heads including the trial and protection granted to key witnesses in the case.
The report said the total expenditure incurred by the exchequer is Rs 5.86 crores and it included the cost in providing police protection Neelam Katara, key witness Ajay Katara, Nitin Katara, brother of the deceased, and public prosecutor B S Joon.

On security alone, the state incurred a cost of Rs 3.86 crore, it said, adding the protection is still being given to the witnesses.
The report was filed in pursuance of an earlier order of the court which had asked the DLSA to enquire about the convicts' capacity to pay the compensation.
The bench, which terms its exercise as special, had referred to an apex court verdict in the Ankush Shivaji Gaikwad Vs UOI case and had said that under Section 357 of the Criminal Procedure Code, the courts dealing with criminal offences are bound to consider granting compensation to the victims or their families.

The report has been prepared taking into account the cost incurred under various heads such as investigation, government lawyers, police protection, court expenses, jail expenses and transportation.

"As such, the total expenditure incurred by District Judiciary as well High Court registry is estimated to be Rs.73 -74 lacs," it said.
The report also give details of convicts' ability to pay compensation to the family of victims and the figure has been arrived at by taking into account the assets of the convicts.
It said Vikas Yadav and Vishal can pay compensation of Rs 5.75 crore and Rs 9.19 crore respectively.