New Delhi, 27 February (H.S.):

The Supreme Court granted furlough to Vikas Yadav, serving a sentence in the infamous 2002 Nitish Katara honor killing, allowing him to spend Holi with family until March 7.Justice M.M. Sundresh's bench noted Yadav has endured 23 years of his 25-year term, overturning Delhi High Court's February 11 rejection and Tihar Jail's denial citing crime gravity, victim family safety concerns, and protests.

Yadav challenged the jail superintendent's refusal in High Court, highlighting prior four-month interim bail compliance for mother's care and wedding without violations. SC reduced his sentence to 25 years sans remission on October 3, 2016.

UP strongman D.P. Yadav's son orchestrated Katara's murder on February 17, 2002, over his sister Bharati's relationship deemed unacceptable by the family.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar