Full Breakdown
Death of Surinder Koli, former Nithari accused, after release
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Death in Haridwar
Surinder Koli, 50, was discovered hanged inside the tea stall he operated in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on a Friday morning, according to police statements reported by NDTV and cited by the BBC. No suicide note was found at the scene. The BBC has sought comment from local police, but a response has not yet been provided. An investigation into the circumstances of his death has been opened.
Background of the Nithari Case
The case that brought Koli to national attention began in 2006 when the remains of 19 women and children were uncovered near a bungalow in Nithari, a village on the outskirts of Delhi. Koli, then a domestic servant, and his employer, businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, were arrested after body parts were discovered on the property. The investigation highlighted systemic failures, with families alleging that police had ignored missing-children complaints for more than two years. The episode also exposed stark social divisions, as many victims were from poor migrant families while the bungalow was situated in a relatively affluent neighbourhood.
Legal Proceedings and Acquittals
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed 19 cases against Koli and Pandher, charging Koli with murder, kidnapping, rape and destroying evidence, and Pandher with immoral trafficking. In 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli in 12 of those cases, and Pandher was cleared in two. In November of the previous year, the Supreme Court acquitted Koli in the final case, ruling that his confession— which had included claims of cannibalism and necrophilia—had been obtained under torture. Following the Supreme Court decision, Koli was released in 2025 after serving 19 years in prison. After his release, he relocated to Haridwar and ran a rented tea stall for several months.
Investigation into Koli’s Death
Authorities have launched a formal inquiry into Koli’s hanging, with police confirming the absence of a suicide note. The investigation will examine whether foul play was involved, given the high-profile nature of his recent acquittal and the public attention surrounding the Nithari murders. Further details are pending as investigators gather evidence.