NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea of Vikas Yadav, convicted in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, to be released from prison on furlough. Yadav is serving a 25-year jail term without remission.A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has undergone 23 years of incarceration and granted him furlough till March 7. “Furlough is now sought on the ground that he wishes to spend time during Holi. Without going into the merits, we permit the petitioner to be released on furlough,” the bench said.The SC rejected the objections raised by the complainant’s counsel against grant of furlough, saying, “You want to hang him? Is it?” “What is the point of hearing you in this matter? After 23 years, you don’t want to let things go. We need to let things go,” the bench said.Justice Sundresh orally remarked that grant of such relief can sometimes help in the reformation of the convict. HC had rejected his plea citing ‘grave offences’On Feb 11, Delhi HC had turned down Yadav’s plea seeking to be released from the prison on furlough for 21 days. Dismissing his petition, HC had said Yadav was convicted for committing “grave offences” and was “statutorily ineligible” for the relief of furlough under Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.Yadav had challenged the jail authorities’ Oct 29, 2025, order rejecting his furlough application. The court said there was no arbitrariness, illegality or violation of constitutional rights in the decision of the jail authorities. On Oct 3, 2016, SC had awarded a 25-year jail term to Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal for kidnapping Katara, a business executive, from a marriage party on the intervening night of Feb 16 and 17, 2002, and killing him over his alleged relationship with Yadav’s sister. Co-convict Sukhdev Yadav was given a 20-year jail term.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThree Fault Lines, One Open War: Security Expert Breaks Down Why Pakistan’s Taliban Gamble FailedPak-Afghan War: Security Expert Say Conflict Could End Badly for IslambadWho Is Really Running Pakistan’s Afghan Policy? Experts React To Islamabad’s AggressionIndia, Israel Backs Kabul: Pak Journalist’s Shocking Claims on Afghan Actions Against IslamabadAmid Rising Violence, Afghanistan Urges Pakistan For Talks To Prevent Prolonged Conflict“Deep Concern”: China Alarms As Pakistan-Afghanistan Clash Explodes After Taliban StrikeKejriwal Gets Clean Chit In Delhi Liquor Policy Case, Court Tears Into CBI Over Lack Of EvidencePakistan Army Blames India Again For ‘Open War’ Against Afghanistan, Calls Taliban Delhi’s ProxyCanada PM Mark Carney Lands In India, Aims For Fresh Push To Reset Strained Bilateral TiesPakistan in Open War With Afghanistan, But Does Islamabad Have the Military Muscle?123PhotostoriesFrom Thalapathy Vijay to Dhanush: South Indian celebrity divorces that shocked fansThe 50: From Yuvika Chaudhary getting upset with Mr Faisu to Sidharth Bharadwaj’s eviction; Top moments from the episode5 plants you should NEVER place near the main door as per Vastu and why3-ingredient breakfast dishes for working women and what makes them specialDitch the pastel winds: What Vijay Deverakonda’s and Rashmika Mandanna’s wedding outfits taught us6 Indian billionaires who own private residence worth crores in Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone, DelhiFrom red anarkali to yellow suit: Rashmika Mandanna’s newlywed glow steals the spotlight10 Bihari Sattu dishes that are good for gut health and overall nutritionOne woman dies every 8 minutes in India from cervical cancer: Oncologist shares 5 critical steps to prevent itDeepika Padukone to Aishwarya Rai: Bollywood stars who turned down Hollywood projects123Hot PicksPakistan-Afghanistan warIndia GDP growthGold rate todayAir ticket refund rulesIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays February 2026Bank Holidays februaryTop TrendingResident Evil RequiemDenver BroncosNFL RumorsHSR Stellaron Hunter Blade skinLos Angeles DodgersCody BellingerTony DungyShai Gilgeous AlexanderNFL CombineTony Dungy
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea of Vikas Yadav, convicted in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, to be released from prison on furlough. Yadav is serving a 25-year jail term without remission.A bench of Justices M M Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has undergone 23 years of incarceration and granted him furlough till March 7. “Furlough is now sought on the ground that he wishes to spend time during Holi. Without going into the merits, we permit the petitioner to be released on furlough,” the bench said.The SC rejected the objections raised by the complainant’s counsel against grant of furlough, saying, “You want to hang him? Is it?” “What is the point of hearing you in this matter? After 23 years, you don’t want to let things go. We need to let things go,” the bench said.Justice Sundresh orally remarked that grant of such relief can sometimes help in the reformation of the convict. HC had rejected his plea citing ‘grave offences’On Feb 11, Delhi HC had turned down Yadav’s plea seeking to be released from the prison on furlough for 21 days. Dismissing his petition, HC had said Yadav was convicted for committing “grave offences” and was “statutorily ineligible” for the relief of furlough under Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.Yadav had challenged the jail authorities’ Oct 29, 2025, order rejecting his furlough application. The court said there was no arbitrariness, illegality or violation of constitutional rights in the decision of the jail authorities. On Oct 3, 2016, SC had awarded a 25-year jail term to Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal for kidnapping Katara, a business executive, from a marriage party on the intervening night of Feb 16 and 17, 2002, and killing him over his alleged relationship with Yadav’s sister. Co-convict Sukhdev Yadav was given a 20-year jail term.
