The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the release of the Nitish Katara murder convict, Sukhdev Pehalwan, directing the authorties to release convicts who served terms. The top court also said there was no need for remission appeals, noting that Pehalwan, convict in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, has completed his sentence of 20 years in March this year.
On October 3, 2016, the Supreme Court awarded a 25-year jail term without the benefit of remission to Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav for their role in the sensational kidnapping and killing of Katara. Co-convict Pelelwan was given a 20-year jail term in the case.
What Was The Motive The Murder?
They were convicted and sentenced for kidnapping Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002 and then killing him for his alleged affair with Vikas’ sister Bharti Yadav. Bharti is the daughter of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav. The trial court observed that Katara was murdered as Vishal and Vikas Yadav did not approve of his affair with Bharti due to their different castes.