Supreme Court Rejects Vikas Yadav's Bail Extension in 2002 Nitish Katara Murder Case

"Now it is marriage, then you will have children, it will go on and on," the Supreme Court bench remarked while rejecting Vikas Yadav's bail extension plea.

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to extend the interim bail of Vikas Yadav, who is currently serving a 25-year sentence for the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case.

Justices M M Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma heard Yadav's appeal against the Delhi High Court's September 9 order that had denied any extension of his interim bail.

Following the High Court's decision, Yadav surrendered the same day and approached the Supreme Court seeking bail on grounds of his marriage arrangements and the need to arrange over Rs 54 lakh to pay the fine imposed as part of his sentence.

The Supreme Court emphasized that granting such requests would lead to "a never ending process," with the bench noting, "Now it is marriage, then you will have children, it will go on and on."

Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, representing Yadav, informed the court that the High Court would hear the matter on December 2. He argued that his client needed to make several arrangements, stating, "I do not have an Aadhaar card. I have to organise all my documents. And I need to mobilise funds for paying the fine of Rs 54 lakh as part of the punishment imposed on me."

The apex court, however, remained firm in rejecting the request for interim bail.

Yadav, aged 54, who has spent more than 23 years incarcerated, had also sought interim bail because his marriage was scheduled for September 5, and he needed to arrange the substantial fine amount imposed at sentencing.

As the son of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav, Vikas Yadav was convicted along with his cousin Vishal Yadav for the kidnapping and murder of business executive Nitish Katara.

The crime was motivated by their opposition to Katara's alleged relationship with Bharti Yadav, Vikas's sister, as they belonged to different castes.

Another co-convict in the case, Sukhdev Pehalwan, had received a 20-year jail term without remission benefits. The Supreme Court ordered his release on July 29 this year, noting that he had completed his sentence in March.