Nithari Case Convict Surinder Koli Found Dead in Haridwar, Dies by Suicide

Surendra Koli, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2025 in the final case linked to the infamous 2006 Nithari killings, was found dead in Haridwar on Friday, police said. He was in his early 50s. According to the police, Koli was found hanging at a tea stall he had been operating in Haridwar after being released following his acquittal. Authorities said an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is underway.

Koli and his former employer, Moninder Singh Pandher, had faced allegations in several cases involving the rape and murder of children in and around Noida's Nithari area. Both men were convicted in some of the cases at different stages of the legal proceedings, but were subsequently acquitted in all the cases.

Nithari killings shocked the country: The Nithari case came to public attention in December 2006 after human remains, including bones and skulls believed to belong to children, were discovered in a drain near Pandher's house in Nithari village, Noida. Clothes and footwear were also recovered from the area. The discovery triggered widespread outrage in India and drew international attention. At least 19 children were reported dead in connection with the case, while Pandher's bungalow, D-5 in Sector 31, Noida, became widely referred to as the "House of Horrors."

Pandher and Koli, who had worked as a domestic helper at the property, were arrested soon after the discoveries. The Central Bureau of Investigation later took over the investigation and filed several cases against Koli, alleging offences including murder, abduction, rape and destruction of evidence. Pandher was separately accused in a case involving alleged immoral trafficking.

Supreme Court acquitted Koli in final case: Koli had been convicted in 12 cases between 2009 and 2017, with courts imposing the death penalty in those matters. His final case was decided by the Supreme Court in November 2025, when the court acquitted him. The verdict marked the end of the criminal cases against Koli connected with the Nithari killings. The Supreme Court questioned the reliability of the circumstantial evidence presented against him, noting the absence of adequate forensic support and highlighting investigative shortcomings.

The court also referred to alleged leads concerning possible organ trafficking that, according to the judgment, were not properly pursued during the investigation. Koli had previously faced execution proceedings. In 2007, his death sentence came close to being carried out before a last-minute intervention by the then Chief Justice of India resulted in a temporary halt. Following his acquittal in the final case, Koli remained free until his death in Haridwar. Police are now examining the circumstances surrounding his death and conducting further investigation.