Supreme Court Orders Release of Nitish Katara Murder Convict

The Supreme Court on Tuesday mandated the release of Sukhdev Yadav, also known as Pehalwan, from his 20-year imprisonment for his involvement in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case. Despite completing his sentence in March, Yadav's release was stalled by the Sentence Review Board, which the court found unjustifiable.

The board's decision to deny Yadav's remission plea based on his conduct was met with surprise by the court, which emphasized the importance of adhering to judicial orders. Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan questioned the board's authority to override the court's directive, stressing the potential for indefinite incarceration if such actions are permitted.

Additional Solicitor General Archana Pathak Dave contended that life imprisonment extends beyond 20 years. However, this argument was countered by senior advocate Siddharth Mridul, who argued that Yadav's legal term concluded on March 9. The court's decision marks a significant moment in addressing executive overreach in the justice system.

(With inputs from agencies.)