New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday declined to extend the interim bail of Vikas Yadav, one of the key accused in the high-profile Nitish Katara murder case. Yadav, who has served 23 years of his 25-year sentence, had been granted temporary bail earlier this year for his wedding. His bail ends on Tuesday. The top court directed him to approach the Delhi High Court.
This development marks a major setback for Yadav who had petitioned for an extension of his bail period. The Supreme Court had earlier extended his interim bail by one week thus allowing him to complete personal obligations related to his marriage.
Nitish Katara’s mother questions Yadav’s bail
The issue gained further traction after Neelam Katara, mother of Nitish Katara, approached the Delhi High Court last week expressing concern that Yadav may have already married while on bail. She submitted photographs that allegedly showed the convict’s wedding ceremonies. She also accused him of misleading the court to secure an extension of bail. On Monday, Yadav’s family confirmed the marriage by posting pictures online.
According to reports, Yadav married 28-year old Harshika from Firozabad, Uttar Pradesh. A postgraduate student pursuing an MCA degree, Harshika is the daughter of Udayraj Singh, the principal of an inter-college in Shikohabad. Yadav, who is now 50, met her through family connections.
The Nitish Katara murder case dates back to 2002. Katara, the son of an IAS officer was killed because of his friendship with Bharti Yadav, sister of Vikas and daughter of former politician DP Yadav. In 2008, a trial court sentenced Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav to life imprisonment. Later, in 2011, co-accused Siddharth Vashisht alias Mannu Sharma was also handed a life term. The Delhi High Court upheld the verdict in 2014 and the Supreme Court confirmed it in 2025.