Convicted in Nitish Katara Murder, Vikas Yadav’s Furlough Request Blocked Due to Prison Rule Violations

New Delhi: Vikas Yadav, serving a 25-year jail term for the high-profile murder of business executive Nitish Katara, had his furlough request rejected by Delhi’s prison administration last week, citing “unsatisfactory conduct.” Yadav, son of UP politician D P Yadav, sought temporary release, but authorities deemed him ineligible based on previous violations of prison rules.

According to an official report, Yadav faced disciplinary action for misconduct in 2012, 2013, and 2017. His furlough application was denied by Director-General (Prisons) Satish Golcha under Rule 1223 of the Delhi Prison Rules-2018, which mandates consistent good behaviour and earned rewards as prerequisites for furlough. These requirements, along with no prior misconduct, are essential for inmates seeking leave to maintain family ties.

The rule was reinforced in a formal statement that emphasized, “Vikas Yadav’s life sentence requires 25 years of actual imprisonment without remission as per the Supreme Court’s 2016 order.” The Central Jail superintendent has been informed of this decision.

The Nitish Katara case became widely known due to its chilling motive. In 2002, Vikas Yadav, along with cousin Vishal Yadav and associate Sukhdev Pehalwan, abducted and murdered Katara over his relationship with Bharti Yadav, Vikas’s sister. The courts ruled that the killing stemmed from disapproval of the inter-caste relationship, leading to life sentences for all involved, with stringent non-remission periods for Yadav and Vishal.

The rejection of Yadav’s furlough highlights the strict adherence to the prison rule of conduct in Delhi’s penitentiaries, underscoring the message that remission benefits are reserved only for those who meet the standards consistently.