The Supreme Court today confirmed the conviction of Vikas and Vishal Yadav, but said it will consider whether the Delhi High Court's sentence of 30 years will be upheld or reduced. The case will come up for hearing after six weeks. Upholding the conviction, the SC ruled that Nitish Katara's murder was a 'well-planned and executed conspiracy'.


The Delhi High Court in February turned down the plea for death sentence by the Delhi Police and Katara's mother, Neelam. It chose instead to give then a lengthy prison sentence.to cousins Vikas and Vishal Yadav and sentenced them to 30 years in jail. They had also been fined Rs 50 lakh each. They were awarded 25 years in jail for murdering Nitish Katara and would spend an additional 5 years in jail for destruction of evidence in the case.


The HC has also awarded life imprisonment to Sukhdev Pehelwan, third convict in murder case, without remission for 20 years. Vishal and Vikas Yadav had appealed the conviction and the sentencing.


All three are serving life term for abducting and killing Katara, a business executive and the son of an IAS officer, on the night of February 16-17, 2002, as they opposed the victim's affair with Bharti, their sister and daughter of UP politician DP Yadav.