Surendra Koli found dead in Haridwar tea stall after acquittal in all 13 Nithari cases

Surendra Koli, who was at the centre of the Nithari killings case and was later acquitted in all 13 cases against him, was found hanging at his rented tea stall in Uttarakhand's Haridwar on Friday, police said.

The 2006 Nithari killings had triggered nationwide outrage after skeletal remains, skulls and bones were recovered from the area around a bungalow owned by businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Sector 31, Noida. Koli, who worked as a domestic helper at Pandher's residence, was subsequently arrested in connection with the cases.

According to police, Koli is suspected to have died by suicide.

Haridwar Kotwali police station Sub-Inspector Vikram Bisht said the Saptarishi police outpost received information on Friday morning that a man had been found dead inside a tea stall on Sapt Sarovar Road. The deceased was identified as Koli, a resident of Mangrukhal in Almora district.

Circle Officer Shishupal Singh Negi told PTI Videos that Koli had been living in Haridwar for some time and had been running the tea stall from a rented premises.

“Police received information this morning that a person had allegedly hanged himself. Our forensic team reached the spot. At present, it appears to be a case of suicide. The body is in police custody, and the panchanama and post-mortem proceedings are underway,” Negi said.

The Nithari case came to light after the disappearance of several children and women from the area and the subsequent discovery of human remains in and around the drainage near the bungalow. The findings caused widespread public anger and fear.

Pandher, who was also an accused in the cases, spent years in prison before being released on October 20, 2023, following his acquittal.

Koli's death has, however, prompted questions from families of the victims. Jhabbu Lal, whose 15-year-old daughter went missing in 2005 and whose skeleton was recovered the following year, alleged that Koli may have been murdered rather than having died by suicide.

Lal, 64, questioned why Koli would take his life after spending several months outside prison following his release.

“If he had died by suicide in jail, it could be understood that he was depressed. But he took his life after being released and spending several months outside? This raises questions,” Lal said.

He further speculated that Koli might have been preparing to disclose information about the case and alleged that this could have been a reason for his death. These claims have not been established by police.

Lal also maintained that Koli was not the principal perpetrator in the Nithari killings and alleged that Pandher was the main accused.

Lal and his wife Sunita, 61, have spent nearly two decades seeking justice for their daughter. The couple, originally from Unnao in Uttar Pradesh, had moved to Nithari around four decades ago in search of work.

Koli was ultimately acquitted in all 13 Nithari-related cases. The Supreme Court acquitted him in the final case in 2025, concerning the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl.

While allowing Koli's curative petition challenging his conviction in that case, the Supreme Court held that criminal convictions cannot be based on conjecture or mere suspicion. A bench headed by then Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath noted the horrific nature of the offences and the immense suffering endured by the victims' families.

The court observed that despite a prolonged investigation, the identity of the actual perpetrator had not been established to the standard required under criminal law.

The apex court stressed that suspicion, however serious, cannot substitute proof beyond reasonable doubt. It also reaffirmed that the presumption of innocence continues until guilt is established through admissible and reliable evidence.

with inputs from PTI