Supreme Court Extends Bail for Vikas Yadav in High-Profile Murder Case

The Supreme Court has extended the interim bail of Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year sentence for the 2002 murder of Nitish Katara, granting him two additional weeks to care for his ailing mother. A bench comprising Justices Ujjal Bhuyan and Manmohan approved the extension after considering Yadav's plea concerning his mother's critical post-surgery recovery.

Yadav's legal representative emphasized the necessity of his presence for his mother's post-operative care following a surgery performed on May 25. Previously, the apex court had allowed Yadav an interim bail on April 24 with specific conditions, including residence in Ghaziabad. His bail was subsequently extended for four weeks.

While granting the interim bail, the court restricted Yadav from contacting witnesses, including Neelam Katara, Nitish Katara's mother. Law enforcement from Uttarakhand and Delhi have been directed to ensure security for the witnesses and Neelam Katara. Yadav, who has spent 23 years in prison, also has a pending case regarding the denial of remission benefits. In 2008, a trial court found him guilty of kidnapping and murdering Katara, prompted by Katara's relationship with Yadav's sister.

(With inputs from agencies.)