New Delhi, February 27 The Supreme Court on Friday allowed a plea by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence without remission for the murder of businessman Nitish Katara in 2002, seeking to be released from prison on furlough.
A bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has spent 23 years in prison and granted him furlough until March 7 to spend time with his family during Holi.
"We permit the petitioner to be released on furlough until March 7, on the grounds that he wishes to spend time during Holi. Without going into the merits, we permit the petitioner to be released on furlough until March 7," the bench said.
During the hearing, the apex court rejected the objections raised by the complainant's counsel against the grant of furlough.
"Do you want to keep him in prison indefinitely? Is that what you are asking? What is the point of hearing us in this matter? After 23 years, we need to move forward," the bench said.
Justice Sundresh orally remarked that granting such relief can sometimes help in the rehabilitation of the convict.
The Delhi High Court on February 11 had turned down Yadav's plea seeking to be released from prison on a 21-day furlough.
Dismissing his petition, the high court had said that Yadav was convicted for committing "grave offenses" and was "statutorily ineligible" for the furlough under the Delhi Prison Rules (DPR), 2018.
Furlough is a temporary release from prison, not a suspension or remission of the entire sentence, and is typically granted to long-term inmates who have served a portion of their sentences.
Yadav had challenged the jail authorities' October 29, 2025, order rejecting his furlough application.
The court said there was no arbitrariness, illegality, or violation of constitutional rights in the decision of the jail authorities.
Vikas Yadav is the son of Uttar Pradesh politician D P Yadav. His cousin, Vishal Yadav, was also punished for the kidnapping and murder of Katara.
The two were against Katara's alleged affair with Bharti Yadav, the sister of Vikas Yadav, as they belonged to different castes.
On October 3, 2016, the top court awarded a 25-year prison sentence, without the benefit of remission, to Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav for their role in the sensational kidnapping and killing of Katara. Co-convict Sukhdev Yadav was given a 20-year prison term.
They were convicted and sentenced for kidnapping Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002, and then killing him for his alleged affair with Bharti Yadav.