The Delhi high court on Friday asked Vikas Yadav, the prime accused in the Nitish Katara murder case, to produce all the defence witnesses before the trial court by September 20.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Yadav, challenging the trial court's order on July 17 declining the examination of 23 defence witnesses.

Yadav had sought permission to produce 40 witnesses to depose in his favour.

The trial court has examined 15 defence witnesses so far. Two others were disallowed after they failed to appear before the court on several occasions.

Justice V B Gupta asked Yadav's counsel to complete the depositions of the disallowed witnesses by August 20.

Counsel for Delhi police Mukta Gupta opposed Yadav's petition. She contended that the trial court had decided to drop the witnesses due to the defence's delaying tactics.

"Since May 15, when the matter was listed for defence witnesses' deposition, they have sought adjournments on one ground or the other," said Gupta.

Yadav has also alleged that the trial judge had not given him a fair opportunity to present his defence.

In February 2002, Nitish Katara, the son of a former IAS officer, was allegedly murdered by Vikas and his cousin Vishal.

The accused allegedly murdered Katara due to his association with their sister Bharti Yadav.