Guilty verdict for Delhi murder

Nitish Katara was murdered in 2002 (Picture: justicefornitishkatara.blogspot)

A court in India's capital Delhi has found the son of an influential politician guilty in a high-profile murder case.

Vikas Yadav has been found guilty of abducting and killing Nitish Katara six years ago because he was opposed to Katara's relationship with his sister.

Yadav's cousin, Vishal Yadav, has also been found guilty.

Katara's mother has hailed the court verdict. Yadavs' lawyers say they will appeal against the order.

The sentences will be announced on Friday.

Charred body

"Justice has been done. I am happy with the justice. This verdict will be a milestone," Neelam Katara, Nitish's mother, said after the court order.

The defence lawyers said they would appeal against the order, arguing that the entire judgement was based on circumstantial evidence.

Vikas is the son of Uttar Pradesh politician DP Yadav. He has also been convicted for his role in the sensational murder of Delhi model Jessica Lal and is currently serving a jail sentence.

A management student, Nitish Katara went missing from a wedding in February 2002.

Mother Neelam Katara says she is happy with the court order (Pic: Naveen Sharma)

Later, his badly charred body was found. The Yadavs were arrested two months later.

The prosecution told the court that Katara was killed by Vikas and Vishal Yadav because they did not approve of his relationship with Vikas's sister Bharti.

Bharti Yadav, who was listed as prime witness by the prosecution, was sent to London by her family immediately after the murder.

She returned to Delhi in November 2006 to give her side of the story to the court.

This case - along with the high-profile murder cases of model Jessica Lal and student Priyadarshini Mattoo - caused immense public outrage in India with civil society activists campaigning extensively for justice for the victims.

Mother Neelam Katara pursued pursuing the case relentlessly over the past six years in the court.

Nitish Katar's friends used online petitions and a blog as part of their campaign demanding justice for him.