Thaindian News

New Delhi, April 7 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday granted two hours’ custodial parole to Vikas Yadav, serving a life term in Tihar Jail for killing Nitish Katara, for attending his brother’s engagement ceremony here April 14.

The division bench headed by Justice B.D. Ahmed said: “Two hours parole is allowed to Vikas for attending his brother’s engagement ceremony, which is scheduled for April 14.”

“Delhi Police should take Vikas in their custody to Hyatt Regency (hotel) here on April 14, where the engagement ceremony will take place. Vikas should be taken in their tight security by 8 p.m.” and brought back to jail from there by 10 p.m., said the bench.

On March 25, the court sought a reply from Delhi Police on the plea of Vikas, son of Uttar Pradesh politician D.P. Yadav, for three-month interim bail.

Accordingly, Delhi Police submitted a report which was incomplete. “We will sumbit the detailed report within a week’s time,” said police counsel.

In June 2008, Vikas and his cousin Vishal Yadav were convicted for killing Katara and were sentenced to life imprisonment.

Vikas and Vishal kidnapped Katara, an MBA graduate and an Indian Administrative Service officer’s son, on Feb 16, 2002, from a marriage party in Ghaziabad and killed him. Vikas was opposed to his sister Bharti’s intimacy with Nitish.

Vikas, in his application for interim bail, said his younger brother Kunal’s marriage was fixed for April 29 and the rituals would start April 14 with the engagement ceremony. He said he would also like to meet his grandfather.

The bench said that Vikas’ plea for attending the marriage April 29 will be decided later, after police file their detailed report.

“Now the matter will be heard on April 18,” said the bench.

In August 2009, the high court dismissed his bail plea, saying: “Although Vikas is in custody for seven years and Vishal for over four years, the length of their incarceration cannot be a ground by itself for granting bail.”