Allahabad HC acquits Surendra Koli and Moninder Pander, death penalty overturned in Nithari killing case

Allahabad High Court on Monday acquitted Nithari murder key accused Surendra Koli. The Allahabad HC acquitted key accused Surendra Koli and his co-accused Moninder Singh Pandher in the Nithari killing case.

A division bench comprising of Justice Ashwini Kumar Mishra and Justice Sha Rizvi passing the above-said order found Koli innocent in a series of twelve cases for which he had previously been awarded the death penalty and Pandher in two cases in which he received the death sentence.

Nithari killing case

It may be recalled that the Nithari case was one of the most shocking and terrorizing incidents that took place in Noida sending shockwaves across the country. Koli was found guilty of rape and murder of several girl children between 2005 and 2006.

The said incident came to light in December 2006 when more than a dozen of skeletons were found in a drain near a house in Nithari village in Noida. Upon investigation, Koli and his employer Pandher were taken into custody over the disappearance of one of the victims. After Koli’s confession, the police started digging up the nearby land area and discovered the children’s bodies.

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Taking serious note of the said incident Central government handed over to it the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI),
During incident CBI registered 16 cases, charge sheeting Surinder Koli in all of them for murders, abductions and rapes besides destruction of evidence, and Pandher in one for immoral trafficking.

The concerned police officials and cops of respected police stations were also suspended for failing to take action despite being informed about a number of children missing.