New Delhi,August 26(HS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted a one-week extension of interim bail to Vikas Yadav, convicted in the high-profile 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, just as his previous bail period was set to expire. Yadav, serving a fixed 25-year sentence without remission, had appealed for bail extension on the grounds of his upcoming marriage on September 5.
Vikas Yadav is the son of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav, and his cousin Vishal Yadav is also serving sentence for the kidnapping and murder of business executive Nitish Katara. The crime was reportedly linked to Katara’s relationship with Bharti Yadav, Vikas Yadav’s sister.
The bail extension comes amidst legal complexities between the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court. Yadav challenged an August 22 Delhi High Court order denying further bail extension, despite the Supreme Court’s July 29 order granting interim bail originally due to his mother’s ill health. The High Court had expressed doubts about extending Supreme Court-granted interim bail, posting the matter for a September 2 hearing.
A Supreme Court bench led by Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih acknowledged the High Court’s limited jurisdiction in this matter, emphasizing that any further relief must come from the Supreme Court itself. Senior advocate S Gurukrishna Kumar, representing Yadav, highlighted his client’s need for bail due to his impending marriage and the arrangement of a ₹54 lakh fine imposed during sentencing.
The Court reiterated that after dismissal of both the October 2016 appeal and a recent writ petition challenging the non-remission sentence, Yadav’s legal options are limited, stressing appropriate legal procedures should have been followed. The bench cautioned against overburdening High Courts and maintained strict adherence to legal protocols.
Meanwhile, Nitish Katara’s mother, Nilam Katara, who opposes the bail extension, argued there is no legal provision for interim bail to convicts, stating parole or furlough as proper remedies. The case remains under further consideration with the next hearing scheduled for September 2.
This development follows the release of fellow convict Sukhdev Yadav in July after completing his 20-year fixed sentence without remission, with Vikas and Vishal Yadav continuing to serve their sentences in the case that gripped the nation over two decades ago.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
