SC Strikes Down Plea Seeking Death for Nitish Katara’s Killers

Supreme Court strikes down Neelam Katara’s plea seeking death sentence for Vikas and Vishal Yadav.

Neelam Katara, petitioner and Nitish Katara’s mother. (Courtesy: ANI)

The Supreme Court has refused the plea filed by Nitish Katara’s mother Neelam seeking death sentence for her son’s killers.

Vikas and Vishal Yadav were convicted for the murder of Nitish Katara earlier this year.

After the hearing, Neelam Katara, who filed the plea, said she respects the court’s decision but will come back better prepared.

I have full faith in the judiciary. We have to asked to file our reply. I am still hopeful that we will be able to put our point properly.
— Neelam Katara, Mother of victim

In February, the Delhi High Court had turned down the plea for death sentence.

• Vikas and Vishal Yadav had been awarded 25 years in jail for murdering Nitish Katara. They were also given an additional five years jail term for destruction of evidence
• Sukhdev Pehelwan, the third convict, was awarded life imprisonment without remission for 20 years

All three are serving a life term for abducting and killing Nitish Katara on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002. They were opposed to Katara’s affair with Bharti, their sister and the daughter of UP politician DP Yadav.