The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi government to clarify its position on granting remission to Sukhdev Pehelwan, a life convict in the high-profile Nitish Katara murder case.
A bench comprising Justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan asked the Delhi government if Pehelwan, sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment without remission, would be considered for sentence remission after completing the stipulated period.
Representing the Delhi government, the counsel submitted that Pehelwan’s sentence did not automatically qualify for remission upon completing 20 years. The court directed the Home Secretary of Delhi to file an affidavit detailing the government’s stance. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 3.
Pehelwan, along with Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav, was convicted for the 2002 abduction and murder of Nitish Katara, a case that drew nationwide attention due to its connection with a prominent political family.
- In May 2008, a trial court sentenced Vikas and Vishal Yadav to life imprisonment.
- In July 2008, Pehelwan was similarly sentenced to life imprisonment.
- The Delhi High Court, in 2015, upheld the convictions, awarding the Yadav brothers 25 years without remission and Pehelwan 20 years without remission.
- In 2016, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the Delhi High Court’s verdict.
With Pehelwan nearing the completion of his 20-year sentence, the issue of remission has surfaced, prompting the apex court’s intervention.