Society

Neelam Katara's Tryst with Justice

Incompetent investigations; long-drawn legal battles; deals being fixed between the police, the defence counsel and the prosecutors; prosecutors being appointed at the whims and fancies of corrupt politicians; and see-saw verdicts. This is the state of the justice system in India today. Over six decades after Independence can an ordinary Indian dream of seeking justice in this country?  

Ask Neelam Katara, 58, the mother of young Nitish Katara, who was brutally murdered because he fell in love with a girl from another caste, and she would probably say 'yes'. Her eight-year-long legal battle against Nitish's politically powerful killers is an inspiring example of how, despite being emotionally difficult, time-consuming and a huge drain on the finances, fighting for justice is always worth the effort.  

"The moment I saw Nitish's badly burnt body in those bushes, I made up my mind that the people who committed this [crime] would not go unpunished. Since then I have been doing just that," she says, sitting in the living room of her quaint Chelmsford Road bungalow in Delhi. In the background hangs the photograph of a smiling Nitish, serving as a gentle reminder of the happy times that Neelam's close-knit family had shared.  

In the early hours of February 17, 2002, Nitish, 24, was burnt to death by the brothers of Bharti Yadav, the daughter of politician D.P. Yadav. That day life for the Kataras changed forever, especially for Neelam, who was determined to ensure that her son's killers would not go free. But this was easier said than done.  

Although Neelam's father was a police officer with the Uttar Pradesh (UP) police, her maternal grandfather a judge and her paternal grandfather a public prosecutor she, like most ordinary Indians, had no awareness of the way the legal system worked. "In school we are taught science and general knowledge. But no one gives us basic legal knowledge or even legal rights awareness. I think having this information in today's crime ridden times will be a great asset," she states.  

Neelam, who works as an education officer with the Kendriya Vidyalaya Board, had to learn things from scratch. "February 17, 2002, when Nitish didn't come home from the wedding he had gone to attend the previous night, was the day I stepped into a police station [at Kavi Nagar, Ghaziabad] for the first time to lodge an FIR [First Information Report]."  

In her FIR, on the basis of the conversations she had with Nitish's friends while searching for his whereabouts, Neelam set down her deep suspicions that Vikas and Vishal Yadav, Bharti's brothers, who had disapproved of her relationship with Nitish, were involved in the crime. Subsequently, she filed a habeas corpus at the advice of senior Supreme Court woman lawyer, Kamini Jaiswal, who has been her pro-bono legal adviser ever since.  

A political science graduate from Allahabad University, Neelam says, "Had Bharti's brothers not killed Nitish, they would have killed Bharti in the name of caste and honour. 'Honour killings' have been a common occurrence. They happen every week in little towns of states like UP, where I was born and brought up." 

In fact, Neelam is really unhappy at caste becoming such a major source of divisions in contemporary India. Nitish himself was brought up never to make distinctions based on caste. For the Kataras "caste was purely a phenomenon of medieval times". "When I came to know about Nitish and Bharti, the only thing I was wary about was that her brother, Vikas, was one of the accused in the Jessica Lal murder case. We did not even know of her father's criminal political background," she recalls. 

In August 2002, Neelam's tryst with the judiciary began. Her first effort was to get the case shifted from the U.P. courts to Delhi to ensure that the political influence of the Yadavs would not have a bearing on the outcome. But in November 2002, when the trials began, things looked bad. Witness after witness turned hostile. Under immense family pressure, even Bharti denied any involvement with Nitish and left for the UK.  

But support or no support, Neelam soldiered on. There was another loss in store. In August 2003, Neelam lost her husband of 27 years. Nishit, a former IAS officer, was suffering from a motor neurological disorder. "We didn't expect him to go so early. I think the stress took its toll," she says. Within the span of a year-and-a-half, Neelam had lost both a son and her husband.  

Yet, when her younger son, Nitin, came home after completing his engineering from Pune, she ensured that he enrolled for his MBA at Leeds University in the UK. Shares the loving mother, "I did not want a break in his studies; it was so easy for him to get distracted by the case. Nitish's insurance claim was the gift that helped me cover the costs of Nitin's education."   

The financial drain was severe when in January 2004 the public prosecutor ditched her and she had to hire a private lawyer. This led her to spend most of her husband's retirement benefits. But her efforts paid off. In November 2006, Bharti was examined as a witness. And in May 2008 the trial court found Vikas and Vishal guilty. They are currently serving a life sentence.  

Yet, justice has come at a very high price. Every day Neelam wakes up to the thought of 'what if the Yadav brothers get bailed out?' "Every victim's family that approaches the courts to seek justice ends up being a victim of the judicial system. If the accused are rich, then they hold the power to prolong the case as much as they desire, simply by getting their lawyers to rely on adjournments and not presenting their witnesses. Under Indian law the onus of proving the accused guilty of the crime rests on the complainant," she reveals. Incidentally, the Yadav brothers were in the news recently for exploiting loopholes in the rules to make 85 medical outings between May 30, 2008 and February 8, 2010, although they are both serving life terms. 

Stress has taken a toll on Neelam. It led her to put on 17 kilos over the past eight years, which has resulted in her developing blood pressure related problems. "But now I take care and regulate my condition through medication. I have even shed five kilos," she smiles. 

By her side today are her 80-year-old parents in Muzaffarnagar, UP, who she visits for a week every month. While her job keeps her busy during the day, the evenings are reserved for her son Nitin, who is now working with an event management company in Delhi.  

Neelam's inspiring persona has won her many admirers, at work and otherwise. In fact, very often as a member of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Board's interview panel, she encounters young teachers, who are more delighted to meet her than to be called in for a promotion interview.  

She advises young people not to get cynical, speak up against injustice and never give up: "You have to be willing to make sacrifices and fight your own case. The rest are just waiting for you to give up."  

She add, "Nitin often asks me why all of this had to happen to him. To which I answer, 'Some people have a perfect youth and a difficult old age like I had, and some have it tough like you in their youth. May be you have a lovely phase hereafter.'"  

That's Neelam Katara for you, a picture of rare courage and quiet optimism.  

By arrangement with WFS  

08-Aug-2010

More by :  Vasudha Mehta

Top | Society

Views: 5004      Comments: 12



Comment Respected maam
I was your student in 12th class You was my favourite english teacher

Seema
25-Feb-2024 12:24 PM

Comment Neelamji
I am fighting for justice for my son
My husband is in deathbed
The laws in this country indicts an innocent man
Its 8 years no proof was found dowry case
No documrntary evidence photo yrecording video nothing at timeof FIR
Ontop of case fiked in 2017 and in 2019 she takes annulment still case going on
Marriage null and void this id the law of our country
Please advise
Spent lakhs on callous lawyers
All laws are for ruthless women

Help!
Janushree Mojoomdar

Janushree
18-Jan-2024 00:21 AM

Comment Respected Madam,
I trust this mail find you in the best of your health.
Madam my son Rahul of 14 years reached his school School by 7 AM on 10th April 2015 after 10 school holidays but I received a phone call after 3 hours stating that my son is no more,school authorities simply alleged my son did Suicide after the school authorities destroying all evidences with the help of police to protect the name of the high profile School in Lucknow namely La Martiniere Boys School where most of kids of VIPs study including son of the Hon.Chief Minister Shri.Akhilesh Yadav.

I have been trying my best to get justice for my 14 years old son but because of involvement of som high profile VIPs I did not get anything positive though Post-Mortem analysis and other facts catogoricaly proves that it is NOT a Suicide but a Murder.

With all due respect I request you to do the needful to help me in getting Justice for my son.Madam I am living only for getting the Justice for my son otherwise there is no meaning in my living

Thanking you

Mrs.Annamma Sridharan.
Asst.Nursing Superindent,
Dept.Of Nephrology,SGPGI,Lucknow-226014
type 3/32 SGPGI Campus. .

v sridharan
19-Oct-2016 12:36 PM

Comment
Vasudha ! am adding something for this website : a letter from .Nisheeth Katara dtd 8/4/02 expressng his gratitude for me for sharing their grief on the ghastly murder of his son and hearkening the family to fight it out . Neelam a hapless lady wore the gauntlet to fight the rotten system and she did it alone . Sita and Draupadi' s pales before sufferings of this lady ; for her there is no Krishna ,no Rama & no god , just it is her grit vs cruel and
insensitive justice system . Nisheeth asked me to join the peaceful march from modern school Barakhamba road to JANTAR MANTAR on 20th March 2002 .Do i need say that
me and Mr Rajeev Talwar then cmd itdc were the two who reached the school one hour in advance . I don't know Neelam's Phone NO & address otherwise I would have sent her copy of this precious letter and my own scripted piece on her published by Chetna Sandesh - a monthly magazine .The site may contact me at 9278504114.. Keep it up Neelam ,you proved worthy of your name . Jai Hind .

Bir Bahadar Malhotra
04-Oct-2016 00:26 AM

Comment Though me too checked to get Mrs Neelam Katara mail id, I wish it be non reachable.
She may be alone, lost loving son, husband. She fought lone with a power fool giant.
Rarely get justice to a lone widow, comparatively poor with Yadavs. She deserves praise, admiration, support even after winning the battle. Yadavs should not be out, to harm her
ever. Seen lots of comments to get Madam's contacts, all with similar murder cases.
Whole day, I spent on computer to study the case. Poor Bharti, victim of richness & power.
She has to be allowed to care her ex lover's mother, whenever possible. Wish Yatin be nice in lending helping hand. Allah bless all.

sadiq
16-Nov-2015 13:34 PM

Comment Mam,I am in Ambala my father aged 75 was murderd by unknown persons in Haridwar (near hyampur P.S.) on 12/06/2014 but inspite of eight months none of the accused has been arrested I want to meet you urgently plz give me your phone number and address so that I can contact you.

vijay rana
17-Feb-2015 08:57 AM

Comment mam i need ur help to get justice for my husband.i have written to u on 23/10/14 but have not recieved any reply. plz help me,i have small child of 15yrs,and there is danger to ur life also.my contact no is 09760870129

dr.natasha
26-Oct-2014 09:16 AM

Comment mam,i m cmo in delhi,my husband dr narinder chaudhary was murderd by friends and brother of ruling party MLA in ALIGARH,UP.on 24/9/14 but inspite of one month none of the accused has been arrested I want to meet u urgently plz give me ur phone number and address so that I can contact u.plz help me.

dr.natasha
23-Oct-2014 22:40 PM

Comment mam i have to contact you for some advices.... please do me a favour...its really very urgent for justice for LATE my sister who was a senior resident doctor.. my contact no. is 8860360789

TUSHAR
01-Sep-2013 02:06 AM

Comment please sent the address and telephone number of madam neelam katara at email and at 09311318687

malalodhi
22-Aug-2013 01:14 AM

Comment Hi,

I am working for a leadership gurukulam in Pune called Sadhana Centre for Management & Leadership Development.

We are organizing a event / seminar and calling inspirational people from all over the country, please help us in reaching to Ms. Neelam Katara, provide the email id & number is possible.

My number is 9890474536, 9552590074

Regards,

Avinash Singh

Avinash
20-Mar-2011 03:10 AM

Comment Very well written, Vasudha! You brought out details that were not known earlier and that made the story different from those we have read earlier. Great job!

Archana Sudheer Gayen
16-Aug-2010 04:06 AM




Name *

Email ID

Comment *
 
 Characters
Verification Code*

Can't read? Reload

Please fill the above code for verification.