Nitish Katara murder case: Delhi HC sentences Vikas and Vishal Yadav to 25 years life imprisonment

The Delhi High Court on Friday awarded life imprisonment without remission for 25 years to Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav's son Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal, who had earlier been convicted for the murder of Nitish Katara.

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The court also slapped a fine of Rs.50 lakh each on the duo, while Sukhdev Pahalwan, another convict in the case, was awarded a 20-year prison term.

Nitish's mother, Neelam Katara, however, expressed her disappointment over the court's rejection of her capital punishment plea for both Vikas and Vishal.

"We had asked for capital punishment, but the court rejected that plea. On that extent, I'm disappointed. But I respect the court's judgment; at least they agreed to enhance the punishment. I'm satisfied on that extent," said Neelam Katara.

The Delhi Police and Neelam Katara had filed appeals to award the death penalty to both brothers on grounds that their offence fell under the 'rarest of rare' category.

Nitish Katara, a business executive, was abducted from a marriage party in Ghaziabad on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002 and was later killed by the Yadav brothers.