The designated CBI court on Friday sentenced Moninder Singh Pandher and his aide Surendra Koli to death in one of the Nithari serial rape-murder cases. Pronouncing the judgment, Special CBI Judge PK Tiwari noted that Koli and Pandher were involved in the rape and murder of housemaid Anjali in 2006, and they deserved the strictest punishment. Since Pandher was involved in the crime along with his domestic help, he is also liable for the maximum punishment as described in law and that is death, the judge ruled.
On Thursday, the court held both guilty under Sections 376 (rape), 302 (murder) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence or false information) of the Indian Penal Code. This is the third case in which Pandher has been sentenced to death, while Koli had been found guilty in eight other cases decided earlier and given the death sentence. Chargesheets were filed against the two accused in 16 of the 19 cases, out of which now 10 cases have been decided.
CBI judge PK Tiwari while delivering the verdict said that Surendra Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher was involved in the heinous crime so they deserved to be punished in the strict manners so that the cultured society is formed. The sentence would run to gather in all applicable sections on both accused. Since Pandher was involved in the crime with his domestic help is also liable for the strict punishment as described in the law and that is death.
Koli had dragged the victim in house made her unconscious raped her and ate her flesh. So death sentence is only option in law. Both are to be hanged till death they are to be taken in the judicial custody added the judge in his pronouncement.
Koli was booked under section 302, 364, 376 and 201 of IPC. Maninder Singh Pandher was booked under 302, 201, 120( b), and 376 of IPC.
The CBI did not chargesheeted Pandher in the case but the court summoned his accused under provision of 319 of Cr.PC and convicted him along with his domestic help.
In this case a 25 year old maid did not return to her home on 12/10/2006. Her missing was lodged in the police station. But when Surender Koli was arrested on 29/12/2006 for the first time he made police to recover some skulls from rear of the house. One of skulls recovered from the sited matched with the DNA of her mother and brother during test. So this was the strongest evidence in the case to prove him guilty added lawyer Sharma. The cloths were also identified by the family members of the victim which made to court to held them guilty further added the lawyer.
The total 19 FIRs were filed in Nithari serial killings out of which final reports were submitted in three cases. In remaining 17 cases charge sheets were filed out of which 9 cases have been finalized by the court. And in all 9 cases Koli had been found guilty and had been awarded death sentence. Pandher has been awarded death in 3 cases.