By IANS,
New Delhi : The mother of Nitish Katara Wednesday said her faith in the Indian judicial system has strengthened after a court convicted Vikas Yadav and Vishal Yadav for the murder of her son.
But she said her son would have been alive today if the judgement in the killing of model-waitress Jessica Lal had come on time. Vikas Yadav, son of influential Uttar Pradesh politician D.P. Yadav, faces a life term in that case.
“If justice had been delivered in time in the Jessica Lal murder case, my son would have been alive today,” Neelam Katara told IANS with tears in her eyes.
Jessica Lal was working as a celebrity barmaid at a crowded socialite party when she was shot dead April 29, 1999.
“I never lost faith in Indian judicial system. I always had faith in it. In a way, my faith has strengthened now. But there is a regret because had justice in the Jessica Lal case come timely and Vikas had not been on bail, my son would have been alive today,” she said.
“Today’s judgement will be a big deterrent to those who decide to take murder as a pastime,” she said.
Added Nitin Katara, brother of Nitish Katara: “The verdict is a win for Nitish and love. I am relieved for my mother who had fought this legal battle moving from one court to another even at this age.”
Neelam Katara also thanked the media for supporting her and the family.
“The fight for Nitish will continue till the apex court. I will not stop here,” she said.
Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur Wednesday held the Yadav cousins guilty of murder, kidnapping and destruction of evidence. The sentence, which could range from life imprisonment to the death penalty, will be pronounced Friday.
Nitish Katara, son of a senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, was kidnapped and murdered after he attended a wedding in Ghaziabad Feb 16, 2002. His body was found in a village in Bulandhshahr in Uttar Pradesh.
The Yadavs resented Nitish’s alleged relationship with D.P. Yadav’s daughter Bharati.