New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Law and Justice, the Delhi government, and others on a petition filed by Vikas Yadav, convicted in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, seeking statutory remission of his 25-year sentence.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja directed the respondents, including Nitish Katara’s mother, Neelam Katara, to file their replies before the next hearing on September 2.
Vikas Yadav, 51, who has been in prison for over 23 years, also sought interim bail on the ground that his marriage has been fixed for September 5.
He further submitted that he needs time to arrange the fine amount of Rs 54 lakh imposed at the time of sentencing. Yadav’s counsel pressed for an early hearing in view of his personal circumstances, but the court scheduled the matter for September 2.
Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, appearing for Yadav, argued that the denial of remission violates his fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution. He pointed out that the Supreme Court, by its order dated July 29, 2025, had dismissed Yadav’s writ petition but granted him liberty to approach the High Court on the remission issue.
The top court had also extended his interim bail until August 26, allowing him to remain out of custody for the time being.
Opposing the plea, Neelam Katara, mother of the deceased, argued that the petition is not maintainable and should not be entertained. She has consistently opposed any relief to the convicts in the case, maintaining that the heinous crime warrants no leniency.
The case dates back to 2002, when Nitish Katara, a young business executive, was kidnapped and murdered by Vikas Yadav, son of former MP D. P. Yadav, along with his cousin Vishal Yadav and others.
