Nitish Katara case: Third accused gets life sentence

Lucknow, Jul 12: Sukhdev Pehlwan, the third accused in Nitish Katara murder case may get life imprisonment, said media reports.

Sukhdev Pehlwan was found guilty by the trail court on Jul 6. Pehlwan is accused of abduction and destruction of evidence in the murder case.

Nitish Katara, a business executive in Delhi fell in love with Bharti Yadav, daughter of DP Yadav, “unrivalled don of western Uttar Pradesh". Though they were an established couple in a stable relationship, the Yadav family never approved the relationship between the two, and Katara received threat several times.

On 17 Feb 2002, the couple attended a friend's wedding, where Yadav's brother Vikas and a cousin were present as well. From there, Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav took Katara for a drive and never returned. Three days later, Katara's body was found beside the highway; he had been battered to death with a hammer, diesel poured on him, and set aflame. He was beaten up so badly that his "digestive system had fallen out". The case was termed as "Honour Killing".

Initially the Yadav brothers were taken into custody by the cops and awarded rigorous life imprisonment by the trial court for their role in the murder. Sukhdev Pahelwan, who was allegedly hired by prime accused Vikas and Vishal Yadav to kill Katara, who also disposed off the body, did not join the probe in 2002 and was declared a proclaimed offender. He had absconded after the incident and was arrested in 2005.

OneIndia News