New Delhi

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the city government to respond to a plea filed by Vikas Yadav, who is serving a 25-year jail term without remission for the 2002 murder of business executive Nitish Katara. Yadav has sought temporary release from prison on furlough for 21 days.

Justice Ravinder Dudeja issued notices to the Delhi government, prison authorities, Katara’s mother Nilam Katara, and witness Ajay Katara, asking them to submit their responses before the next hearing on November 27. The court was hearing Yadav’s challenge to the jail authority’s October 29 order rejecting his furlough request.

Senior advocate Vikas Pahwa, representing Yadav, argued that his client met all criteria under the Delhi Prisons Rules and deserved furlough to maintain family ties after his recent marriage. He added that the request was denied “without proper reasoning” and that the seriousness of the crime should not automatically bar furlough.

The Delhi government’s counsel sought time to file a status report, while prison authorities said Yadav’s conduct in jail was “unsatisfactory.” They also cited fears that his release might threaten law and order or cause distress to the victim’s family.

Furlough is a temporary leave granted to inmates who have served part of their sentence to help them maintain social and family bonds.

Yadav, son of politician D.P. Yadav, was convicted along with his cousin Vishal Yadav for kidnapping and murdering Nitish Katara, who was allegedly in a relationship with Vikas’s sister Bharti. The Supreme Court in 2016 upheld their conviction, awarding both 25 years in jail without remission.