New Delhi:
Politician DP Yadav's son Vikas Yadav and nephew Vishal Yadav killed the young man who was dating their sister and will spend their life in prison, the Delhi High Court said today.
Today's judgement agrees with a trial court's verdict delivered in 2008, which had been challenged by the Yadavs.
"It was an honour killing," the court said of the murder which took place in 2002. Nitish's mother, Neelam, said, "It was a power killing more than an honour killing. It was a very tough personal battle. Such was the fear psychosis, that nobody wanted to speak out."
On April 25, the High Court will hear her appeal asking for the Yadavs to be given the death sentence for the murder of her 25-year-old son.
DP Yadav has been a member of Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and has been elected to parliament twice. His son and nephew have been found guilty of killing Nitish because he was dating their sister Bharti.
(Neelam Katara's wish for Bharati Yadav)
Nitish, a management graduate, was kidnapped from a farmhouse wedding near Delhi in February 2002, where he was last seen with Bharti. He was seen getting into an SUV with the Yadav brothers. His body was found three days later near a highway. Investigators said he was beaten, diesel was poured on him, and his body was set on fire.
It was charred so badly that DNA samples from his mother were used to confirm his identity.