Surendra Koli, who was acquitted by the Supreme Court in connection with the notorious 2005–2006 Nithari serial killings, died by suicide by hanging on Friday, according to local police.
Following his complete acquittal in November 2025, Koli had relocated to Haridwar, Uttarakhand, where he had been running a tea stall over the past few days.
Background of the Case
The Nithari serial killings came to light in December 2006 after police uncovered human skeletal remains of children in a drain behind a bungalow belonging to businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida’s Nithari area. At least 19 children were confirmed dead in the gruesome incident.
Pandher and Koli, who served as domestic help at the residence, were arrested shortly after. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) subsequently took over the case, lodging multiple charges against Koli—including murder, abduction, rape, and destruction of evidence—while charging Pandher in connection with immoral trafficking.
Between 2009 and 2017, trial courts convicted Koli in 12 separate cases involving the rape and murder of children, handing down death sentences.
Final Acquittal and Later Life
The Supreme Court’s November 2025 judgment marked the 13th and final case against Koli, in which he was acquitted. Having already been cleared in the previous 12 cases, the verdict exonerated him of all charges linked to the killings.
After being released from custody, Koli attempted to restart his life out of the public eye by operating a small tea stall in Haridwar before ending his life. Police have initiated preliminary proceedings following the discovery of his body.
