New Delhi, February 11 The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a plea by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year prison sentence without parole for the murder of businessman Nitish Katara in 2002, seeking to be released from prison for 21 days.
Dismissing the petition, Justice Ravinder Dudeja said Yadav was convicted for committing "grave offenses" and was "legally ineligible" for the relief of 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.
Justice Dudeja said furlough is not an "absolute right" and the petitioner's case does not warrant granting him this "discretionary relief".
"The petitioner's background, including the commission of the present offense while on bail in another high-profile murder case, and the perception of threats, are relevant considerations under Rules 1224 and 1235 of the DPR, 2018. The discretion vested in the authorities to deny furlough in the interest of public order and safety has been exercised on relevant considerations and cannot be deemed perverse or irrational," the court observed.
"The writ petition is accordingly dismissed," it held.
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.
Yadav's counsel said he has already undergone incarceration for more than 23 years and four months, and his conduct in prison over the last 12 years has been consistently satisfactory.
He said the jail authorities rejected his client's request on the erroneous assumption that a sentence without parole disentitles a convict from furlough.
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 Supreme Court awarded a 25-year jail term, without the benefit of parole, 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 jail 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.
