The Supreme Court has approved a request from Vikas Yadav, currently serving a 25-year sentence for the 2002 murder of business executive Nitish Katara, allowing him a furlough during the Holi festival. Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi noted that Yadav has spent 23 years in custody and agreed to his release until March 7, enabling him to celebrate with family. The bench stated, “Furlough is now sought on the ground that he wishes to spend time during Holi. Without going into the merits, we permit the petitioner to be released on furlough till March 7.”

Court Responds to Objections

During the proceedings, the Supreme Court addressed objections raised by the counsel of the victim’s family regarding the furlough. The bench questioned the rationale behind their stance, with Justice Sundresh commenting, “You want to hang him? Is it? What is the point of hearing you in this matter? After 23 years, you don’t want to let things go. We need to let things go.” The judge emphasized that granting furlough can sometimes contribute to the reformation of the convict.

Previous High Court Ruling

Earlier, on February 11, the Delhi High Court had denied Yadav’s request for a 21-day furlough. The court stated that he was convicted for serious crimes and was “statutorily ineligible” for such relief according to the Delhi Prison Rules of 2018. The concept of furlough is designed as a limited release from prison, rather than a full suspension of the sentence, typically granted to inmates who have served a substantial portion of their terms.

Legal Background and Conviction Details

Yadav’s legal team challenged a previous decision made by jail authorities on October 29, 2025, which rejected his furlough application. The court found no arbitrariness or violation of constitutional rights in the jail authorities’ ruling. Vikas Yadav, the son of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav, was convicted alongside his cousin, Vishal Yadav, for kidnapping and murdering Katara, who was allegedly involved with Bharti Yadav, a member of Vikas Yadav’s family. The conflict arose due to their differing caste backgrounds.

Sentence and Criminal Charges

On October 3, 2016, the Supreme Court sentenced Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav to 25 years in prison without the possibility of remission for their roles in the high-profile crime. Their accomplice, Sukhdev Yadav, received a sentence of 20 years. The Yadav cousins were found guilty of abducting Katara from a wedding celebration on the nights of February 16 and 17, 2002, and subsequently killing him due to the alleged relationship with Bharti Yadav.

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