The Delhi High Court on Friday sought responses from the Centre, the Delhi government, and Nitish Katara’s mother on a petition filed by Vikas Yadav, convicted in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, seeking release and interim bail.
Yadav, 54, has spent over 23 years in prison and is serving a fixed 25-year sentence. He requested bail citing his upcoming marriage on September 5 and the need to arrange Rs 54 lakh to pay his court-imposed fine.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja posted the matter for September 2, after Yadav’s counsel sought an early hearing. The petition also challenges the denial of statutory remission under the CrPC, arguing it violates his right to life under Article 21.
Yadav is presently out on interim bail, granted by the Supreme Court till August 26 to care for his ailing mother. The high court, however, directed him to surrender on that date, noting that the request for marriage bail is separate from the SC’s relief.
Nitish Katara’s mother, through her counsel, opposed the plea, arguing that the law does not provide for interim bail to a convict post-conviction and only allows parole or furlough.
The court remarked that such a request was “unheard of” and questioned whether it had the power to grant interim bail after a conviction.
Yadav, son of UP politician D.P. Yadav, and his cousin Vishal Yadav were convicted of killing Katara over his alleged relationship with Vikas’s sister. Co-accused Sukhdev Pehalwan, sentenced to 20 years, was released last month after completing his term.
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