The Supreme Court has granted furlough to murder convict Vikas Yadav till March 7 to celebrate Holi. Yadav, son of former MP DP Yadav, has completed 23 years of his 25-year sentence in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case. The bench of Justices MM Sundresh and Vipul M Pancholi allowed the temporary release despite strong objections from the Katara family’s counsel, Vrinda Bhandari.
The court observed that such opportunities could aid prisoner reform. Justice Sundresh referred to his tenure at the Madras High Court, noting positive behavioural changes in life convicts granted parole.
Yadav approached the apex court after the Delhi High Court rejected his plea on February 11. He has been directed to surrender by 5 pm on March 7. The court also permitted Nilam Katara to seek additional security. The Katara family argued Yadav had previously misused interim reliefs and questioned his eligibility for furlough.
