The Supreme Court on Friday permitted Vikas Yadav, serving a 25-year sentence without remission for the 2002 murder of business executive Nitish Katara, to be released on furlough until March 7 so he can spend time with his family during Holi.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has already spent 23 years in prison and allowed the temporary release without examining the merits of the case. The court clarified that the relief was limited to furlough and did not affect the sentence imposed on him.
During the hearing, the court declined to accept objections raised by the complainant’s counsel against granting the relief. The bench also observed that such temporary release can, in some cases, aid in the reformation of a convict.
The order comes weeks after the Delhi High Court, on February 11, rejected Yadav’s plea for 21 days’ furlough. The High Court had held that he was convicted of “grave offences” and was “statutorily ineligible” for furlough under the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018. It had also found no arbitrariness or illegality in the jail authorities’ October 29, 2025 decision denying his request.
Furlough is a temporary release granted to long-term prisoners who have served a substantial part of their sentence. It does not amount to suspension, remission, or commutation of the punishment.
Vikas Yadav, the son of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, was convicted along with his cousin Vishal Yadav for the kidnapping and murder of Nitish Katara. The crime occurred on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002, when Katara was abducted from a wedding function and later killed. The prosecution said the murder was carried out because Katara was in a relationship with Bharti Yadav, Vikas Yadav’s sister, and the families belonged to different castes.
On October 3, 2016, the Supreme Court sentenced Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav to 25 years in prison without remission. Co-convict Sukhdev Yadav was awarded a 20-year term.
With the latest order, Vikas Yadav will remain on furlough only for the specified period and must return to custody after March 7.
