Latest news with #VikasYadav
Hindustan Times
30-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Nitish Katara murder: SC allows release of one convict, extends interim bail to another
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the release of Nitish Katara murder convict Sukhdev Pehelwan on completing 20 years of his life-term sentence, without any remission, even as the court, in a separate proceeding, dismissed a plea by another convict, Vikas Yadav, who challenged the 25-year bar on remission imposed as punishment for the crime committed in 2002. The Supreme Court of India. (Representative photo) In his petition, Pehelwan sought release, contending that the judgment of the top court convicting him in October 2016 had imposed a fixed-term sentence of 20 years without remission. A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and KV Vishwanathan accepted the argument and held that as per the 2016 decision, the 20-year sentence ended in March. 'In these circumstances, he is entitled to release…He shall be released forthwith if not wanted in any other case,' the court said in its order. The contentions of senior advocate Siddharth Mridul, representing Pehelwan, were challenged by the Delhi government, represented by additional solicitor general (ASG) Archana Pathak Dave, who said that the judgment only says that he would be eligible to be considered for remission after a 20-year sentence. She said that the life sentence will continue as a punishment in his case. The bench said, 'Once court has quantified a sentence without remission for 20 years, there is no sentence beyond 20 years.' The ASG pointed out that the Sentence Review Board (SRB) has considered his case for remission and dismissed it on March 28, on the grounds that he has 'potential for committing crime.' The bench took exception to the SRB order and said, 'How can SRB sit over judgment of this court? Once a convict has completed a sentence, he is entitled to release. You are mixing it up with remission... If this is the attitude of the government, then every convict will die in jail even if he has completed the sentence.' Meanwhile, another bench of the Supreme Court dismissed Vikas Yadav's petition questioning how the top court could direct him to remain in jail for a period of 25 years without remission. He had approached the top court in 2022, after he had undergone an actual sentence of 21 years. Dismissing his plea, a bench of justices MM Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh said, 'We are not inclined to exercise our power under Article 142. The petition is dismissed, giving liberty to the petitioner to approach the high court.' The court had earlier granted interim bail to Yadav, who is the son of former member of Parliament DP Yadav. Senior advocate Guru Krishnakumar, appearing for Yadav, requested the court to continue his interim bail for a further period of six weeks as the period of bail expired on Tuesday. The court extended it by another four weeks, while observing that he was free to seek further orders from the high court. The case pertains to the abduction of Katara from a marriage party on the intervening night of February 16 and 17, 2002, and then killing him over his alleged relationship with Bharti Yadav, Vikas's sister. The accused in the case are Vikas Yadav, his cousin Vishal and Pehelwan. The decision of the top court in Pehelwan's case may come to the aid of VIkas and Vishal, who are set to complete the stipulated 25-year sentence in two years.
Hindustan Times
26-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Court grants bail to man accused in kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav
New Delhi, A Delhi court has granted bail to a co-accused in the extortion and kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav, a former Indian government official charged by the US authorities for his alleged role in a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. Court grants bail to man accused in kidnapping case involving Vikas Yadav Additional Sessions Judge Saurabh Partap Singh Laler, who was hearing the bail plea of Jalaluddin alias Sameer, said that there was undisputed evidence of the complainant and the accused travelling together to Thailand, merely three weeks after registration of the FIR on January 6, 2024, creating a prima facie doubt. In its order dated July 23, the court noted that the complainant, Raj Kumar Walia, alleged that he was kidnapped, assaulted, and robbed by co-accused Vikas Yadav and Abdullah Khan on December 17, 2023, where Yadav claimed to be acting on behalf of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. "The complainant stated that he was forced to make a video call to the applicant/accused , who was purportedly based in Dubai, demanding hawala payments. The complainant was allegedly injected with a substance, beaten, and robbed of valuables, including cash, jewellery, and cheques," the court noted. It noted that the Delhi Police's special cell then registered an FIR invoking charges of kidnapping for ransom, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, robbery, criminal conspiracy, and violations under the Arms Act. The court noted that Yadav and Khan were arrested earlier and certain recoveries were made at their instance, but Jalaluddin was arrested on July 1 this year for his alleged role in the criminal conspiracy. Jalauddin's counsel told the court that his client and Walia travelled to Thailand on the same day on January 6, 2024, shortly after the FIR was lodged on December 17, 2023, and this fact was not disclosed by the complainant to the Investigating Officer or the court at any stage. After examining the relevant passport pages, the court said, "The passport entries unequivocally confirm that both the complainant and the applicant arrived at Thailand on January 6, 2024. "The complainant's passport shows his arrival in Thailand on that date, and the applicant's passport and flight tickets corroborate the same." It said that while the photographs of Jalaluddin and Walia together, along with WhatsApp communications, were disputed by the complainant by alleging manipulation, the passport details were "undisputed and form objective evidence." The court said that despite repeated queries, Walia failed to explain the simultaneous travel to Thailand. It said Jaluddin's role was primarily conspiratorial, no recoveries had been effected from him, the investigation regarding him was complete, he had no prior criminal record, and he also assured compliance with court conditions. "However, the pivotal factor tilting the balance in favour of bail is the undisputed fact of the post-FIR travel to Thailand by both the complainant and the applicant. This occurrence, merely three weeks after the FIR, raises serious questions about the complainant's conduct and the credibility of his allegations," the court said. It said Walia was duty-bound to disclose this material fact to the IO and the court, as it directly impacted the prosecution's case. "His failure to do so, coupled with the lack of any plausible explanation despite court queries, suggests possible suppression of facts. While the disputed photographs and communications require forensic verification at trial, the passport evidence alone creates a prima facie doubt regarding the complainant's version, sufficient to justify bail at this stage," the court said. It granted him bail on furnishing a bail bond and two surety bonds of ₹1 lakh each and subject to several other conditions, including not tampering with evidence, not contacting the complainant and cooperating for expeditious disposal of the case. A chargesheet has already been filed against Jalauddin, and the matter has been fixed for further proceedings on August 25. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Hans India
09-07-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Gorapkhpur, Kanpur zoos reopen after 56-day bird flu scare
Gorakhpur/Kanpur: After 56 days of closure due to a bird flu outbreak, zoos in Gorakhpur and Kanpur reopened on Tuesday. The outbreak claimed the lives of four big cats, including two tigers, a leopard and a serval in Gorakhpur, and a peacock and an asiatic lion in Kanpur. Both zoos shut their doors on May 13 after a tigress named Shakti tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza and died. A team from the Central Zoo Authority visited the Shaheed Ashfaqullah Khan Zoological Park in Gorakhpur and identified ducks as the likely source of the virus. The influenza spread to the Kanpur zoo after an asiatic lion was brought from the Gorakhpur zoo for medical treatment. 'In accordance with protocol, the reopening was allowed only after two back-to-back negative reports. All necessary precautions and bio-security measures are in place to ensure public and animal safety,' said Gorakhpur zoo director Vikas Yadav. He said that 72 samples sent in phases to the National Institute of High-Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal tested negative. A second consecutive negative report was received on July 4, and the government clearance for the reopening came on July 7. Similarly, a written approval from the chief wildlife warden was issued to reopen the Kanpur zoo after confirming that all animals are infection-free and the zoo is safe for visitors following multiple rounds of testing at NIHSAD, Bhopal and receiving the two latest consecutive reports as negative on May 26 and June 17, said Kanpur zoo range forest officer Naved Ikram. All necessary precautions and bio-security protocols have been implemented to ensure the safety of both animals and the public, he added. A tigress called Mailani remains under observation. Although she tested negative for bird flu two months ago, her condition hasn't improved. 'She's immobile and suffering from organ damage despite ongoing treatment,' said the Gorakhpur zoo's deputy director Dr Yogesh Pratap Singh. Meanwhile, nearly 400 visitors, including many children, entered the Gorakhpur zoo between 9 am and 11 am after the zoo opened. 'Everything is normal, and people are enjoying their visit,' Singh said.
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Time of India
Passengers lose time & patience: Puddles serving as roads, Metro works block way to stn's platform
Bhopal: Accessing Bhopal Railway Station through platform 6 now demands an additional half-hour buffer as passengers lose undue energy and time in the process . The culprits? The current Metro development work coupled with clogged drainage, which has resulted in challenges and hurdles on the way to the station premises. The ongoing Metro construction has narrowed the approach roads, creating bottlenecks during peak hours. Regular commuters and occasional visitors alike face considerable obstacles while navigating through the construction zones. The waterlogging due to poor drainage compounds these issues, particularly during rainfall. "Puddles and muddy patches have formed near the entrance, making it challenging for elderly passengers and those carrying luggage," said Ashok Tiwari, a passenger. The entrance leading to platform 6 is partially blocked by construction material and equipment. Local autorickshaw and taxi drivers now refuse to drop passengers directly at platform 6, instead leaving them at alternative entry points. "This forces travellers to walk longer distances through uneven terrain and construction zones. The lack of proper lighting in these areas has also raised safety concerns, especially during early morning and evening hours," said another passenger, Vikas Yadav. Railway authorities have acknowledged the issues and said they've approached the Bhopal municipal corporation (BMC) to improve them. "We are aware of the situation. We are in touch with the BMC," said a Bhopal railway division official without quoting his name. Station officials have placed temporary signboards to guide passengers through alternative routes to platform 6. Regular commuters have started planning their journeys differently, often choosing to enter through the main station building and walk across other platforms to reach platform 6. The station management has promised to improve the situation by creating temporary pathways and ensuring better drainage around the construction zones. However, these challenges are likely to persist until the Metro work reaches completion. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
Hans India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Nitish Katara murder case: SC extends Vikas Yadav's interim bail for four weeks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of Vikas Yadav, a convict in the 2002 Nitish Katara murder case, for the next four weeks for post-operative care of his mother. A Bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and K. Vinod Chandran clarified that it will not further extend the interim bail on the poor health condition of the petitioner's mother. In an order passed on April 24 this year, the top court, in a relief to Vikas Yadav, who has undergone actual incarceration for 23 years, enlarged him on temporary bail till May 8, 2025. 'Only for the purposes of enabling the petitioner to meet his ailing mother and to ensure that appropriate treatment is provided to her for the time being, we grant temporary bail to the petitioner,' had ordered a Bench of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan. However, the interim bail was extended from time to time by the apex court. It told Vikas Yadav, the son of Uttar Pradesh politician D.P. Yadav, to furnish a bail bond in the sum of Rs one lakh with one local surety in the like amount and to report to the local police station every day at 11 a.m. It also asked the petitioner not to make any attempt to contact any of the witnesses who have deposed against him, including victim Neelam Katara, the mother of the deceased Nitish Katara, and her immediate relatives. In its order, the Supreme Court opined that the petitioner's mother be examined by a medical board of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, and directed submission of the medical report on or before May 7, 2025. During the period of interim bail, Vikas Yadav was required to confine himself to his residence at Ghaziabad except visiting Yashoda Hospital after his mother was shifted back there from AIIMS Delhi. In the sensational case, the top court recently granted three months' furlough to co-convict Sukhdev Yadav alias 'Pehalwan', who is serving a 20-year jail term. Vikas Yadav and his cousin Vishal Yadav, among others, were convicted and sentenced to 25 years of actual imprisonment without consideration of remission for kidnapping Katara from a marriage party in February 2002 and then killing him for his alleged affair with Vikas' sister Bharti Yadav. Katara was murdered as Vishal and Vikas Yadav did not approve of his alleged relationship with Bharti because they belonged to different castes, the trial court had observed in its verdict.
