Vikas Yadav (murderer)

Vikas Yadav (Hindi विकास यादव) is the son of the noted criminal-politician from Uttar Pradesh, D.P. Yadav, and his politician wife Umlesh Yadav, both of whom are currently member of the state legislative assembly in Uttar Pradesh. Vikas Yadav has been convicted of criminal offenses for obstruction of justice in the murder of Jessica Lal, and found guilty in the murder of Nitish Katara.

Vikas was found guilty of the murder of Nitish Katara, who had fallen in love with Bharti Yadav, Vikas' sister, a relationship that the family did not approve of. After a trial that lasted almost seven years, he was sentenced to life imprisonment on 30 May 2008.

The court found Vikas, son of UP politician D.P Yadav, guilty of murder, criminal conspiracy and destruction of evidence. The court also rejected the plea of Vikas that the pronouncement of verdict be stayed as the Delhi High Court is likely to hear his application seeking a stay on trial court proceedings today. The judge posed a query to defence counsel G.K. Bharti as to whether the High Court had stayed the proceedings in this court. Finding the reply in negative, the court pronounced its verdict: “I hold Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav guilty under sections 302, 364, 201 and 34 of the IPC.” The prosecution on its part has made it clear that they will press for capital punishment.

Reacting to the defence lawyers claim that the verdict came because of intense media pressure, the public prosecutor said, “I don’t think that’s true. We had a watertight case as we had presented more than 20 circumstantial evidences. By ruling in our favour, the court has proved that we were right.” Earlier, the court had dismissed Vikas Yadav’s plea seeking re-examination of key witness Ajay Katara and others.

An emotional Neelam Katara, mother of Nitish, said it was a milestone judgement. “It’s a big relief. It’s a milestone judgement. I thank God,” said Neelam.

Nitish, son of an IAS officer, was allegedly killed by the accused Vikas and his cousin Vishal Yadav on the intervening night of February 16-17, 2002. According to an initial confession by Vikas audiotaped by police, he abducted Nitish from a marriage function in Ghaziabad, and killed him by hitting his head with a hammer in Vikas's car.

Vikas, after being convicted in the murder of Nitish, was in and out of Tihar Jail 66 times between May 30, 2008 and February 8, 2010, averaging five trips a month.