Nitish Katara Case: SC Upholds Vikas and Vishal Yadav’s Sentence

SC upholds the conviction of Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Pehalwan in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case.

Neelam Katara, the mother of Nitish Katara. (Courtesy: ANI)

The Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and Sukhdev Pehalwan in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case.

The court, however, has agreed to hear the issue of quantum of punishment in the case.

The Delhi High Court in February, 2015 turned down the plea for death sentence to Vikas and Vishal Yadav and sentenced them to 30 years in jail. They had also been fined Rs 50 lakh each.

• Vikas and Vishal Yadav were awarded 25 years in jail for murdering Nitish Katara. They were also given an additional five years jail term for destruction of evidence.
• The Delhi High Court has awarded life imprisonment to Sukhdev Pehelwan, the third convict, without remission for 20 years.
• All three are serving a life term sentence for abducting and killing Nitish Katara on the intervening night of February 16-17 in 2002. They were opposed to the victim’s affair with Bharti, their sister and the daughter of UP politician DP Yadav.