January 07, 2025 08:37 pm (IST)
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Katara killers get 25 year jail, victim's mother to move SC
New Delhi, Feb 6 (IBNS) Giving verdict in the sensational Nitish Katara murder case, the Delhi High Court on Friday enhanced the punishment of cousins Vikas and Vishal Yadav with a sentence for 25 years rigorous imprisonment but rejected the plea for their death.
Vikas, son of UP politician D P Yadav and his cousin Vishal have also been fined Rs. 50 lakh each.
A third convict, Sukhdev Pehlwan was also awarded 25 years of rigorous imprisonment.
In 2008 Vikas and Vishal Yadav were convicted for Katara's murder by a Delhi court which sentenced them to life in prison. Katara's mother Neelam Katara then asked the High Court to either sentence the convicts to death, or make their punishment tougher.
A business executive and the son of a IAS officer, Katara was 25 years old when he was murdered at Ghaziabad near Delhi on February 17,2002 reportedly for having affair with D P Yadav's daughter Bharti.
He was kidnapped before being severely battered and his body was set afire.
Although Neelam expressed happiness over the increased duration of jail for the trio, she was unhappy that the high court turned down the prosecution's plea for capital punishment.
"We respect the verdict given by the court. But we will petition the Supreme Court, I think in such cases there should be capital punishment. To the extent that the punishment has been enhanced from a simple life sentence I am happy. But I am disappointed that capital punishment was turned down," she told media.
It is said that Yadav family never approved of the relationship between Katara and Bharti. On the night of February 17, 2002, the couple attended a common friend's wedding, where Yadavs's brother, Vikas, and his cousin Vishal were present as well. From there, Katara was taken for a drive by the Yadav brothers and never returned.
His badly charred corpse, was found a few days later near a highway. The police used DNA samples to confirm the body was his.
During a long trial, Bharti Yadav denied that she had been romantically involved with Katara saying they were nothing beyond friends.
Katara's mother Neelam, fought a prolonged tough battle against a powerful opponent.
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