New Delhi: The murder of 25-year-old Nitish Katara in 2002 was a ” well-planned and executed conspiracy” by the Yadav brothers, said the Supreme Court today. The judges however agreed to consider the convicts’ request to reduce their 30-year prison sentence.
Mr Katara was dating Bharti Yadav, daughter of politician DP Yadav. The young couple was attending a wedding party on the outskirts of Delhi when Mr Katara was abducted and set on fire by Bharti’s brother Vikas and her cousin Vishal.
A third accomplice named Sukhdev Pehelwan was also found guilty of the heinous killing.
In February, the Delhi High Court turned down a request from the Delhi Police and Mr Katara’s mother, Neelam, to given them the death sentence. It chose instead to give then a lengthy prison sentence.
Mr Katara’s corpse, charred so badly that it could not be recognized, was found near a highway days after the wedding from where he was seen leaving with the Yadavs in their SUV. The police used DNA samples to identify his body.
During a long trial, Ms Yadav denied that she had been romantically involved with Mr Katara; they had met at business school. Nitish Katara’s mother, Neelam, fought a tough battle against a powerful opponent – Mr Yadav wielded considerable influence as a politician.
