Expressing satisfaction over the Delhi High Court’s decision to uphold life sentence for the three convicts in her son Nitish’s murder case, Neelam Katara on Wednesday said the judgment was a ‘milestone’ in the judicial system and will pave the way for ‘decriminalisation of politics’.
Nitish was killed in 2002. A trial court had in 2008 found U.P. politician D.P. Yadav’s son Vikas and nephew Vishal Yadav guilty of murdering him. The judgment was challenged by the accused in the High Court, but the court upheld it. Vikas Yadav, Vishal Yadav and hired killer Sukhdev Pehalwan, who are currently lodged in Tihar Jail, will continue to serve their life term. The case that hogged the limelight for almost 20 years. “I am happy that the court has called it ‘honour-killing’… in fact more than honour-killing it was a power killing,” Ms. Katara said outside the High Court.
“My son was killed by sons of politicians who misused their status and authority. The court upholding their sentence gives us a message -- to join hands to make sure that people with criminal background do not become part of politics,” she added.
Calling it a “long battle to justice”, Ms. Katara said: “I was in my 40s when I started fighting the case and now I am in my 60’s. I wish I am there to witness when the case finally reaches Supreme Court.”
