Nitish Katara, 23, was abducted from a Ghaziabad wedding and murdered on 16-17 February 2002. Vikas, Vishal and Sukhdev Yadav were convicted, and the Supreme C…
Nitish Katara and Bharti Yadav, daughter of politician D.P. Yadav, met as MBA students. Her family opposed the relationship.
Around midnight, Bharti's brother Vikas and cousin Vishal Yadav led Nitish out of a friend's wedding.
A badly burnt body was found beside the Shikarpur road. His mother filed a complaint the same day.
Vikas and Vishal Yadav were held in Gwalior district, then arrested in the Katara case.
Neelam Katara feared political influence in Uttar Pradesh. The court moved the trial to Delhi.
One accused was on the run until 2005.
After three and a half years abroad, the key witness gave evidence behind closed doors.
Vikas and Vishal Yadav were found guilty of kidnapping and murder, and given life two days later.
Victim, mother, witness and convicts.
All three convictions were upheld. The court called the crime an honour killing.
The cousins got 25 years plus 5 consecutive. Sukhdev got 20 plus 5.
The 5 years were made concurrent: 25 years for the cousins, 20 for Sukhdev.
How each court changed the terms.
He had completed his 20 years on 9 March 2025. His release is not an acquittal.
How the sentences have been served.
He got temporary releases in Feb-Mar and May 2026. His term is reported to end in May 2027.
From the murder to the release order.
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