The Supreme Court has criticized the CBI and the Uttar Pradesh government for seeking to postpone the hearing on the petition challenging the Allahabad High Court’s decision to acquit Surendra Koli in the Nithari murder case.
A bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih said the request reflects a ‘pathetic picture’ of the Centre.
The court added that such delays inconvenience not only the judges but also lawyers traveling from outside Delhi.
The Supreme Court noted that during the last hearing, 18 lawyers appeared for the CBI and the state government, including several senior lawyers.
Justice Gavai suggested adopting the practice followed by another bench to avoid unnecessary delays.
Koli’s lawyer argued that nine senior lawyers appeared, but none wanted to argue.
He claimed the only evidence against Koli was a confession and a recovery under Section 164 CrPC, allegedly obtained after 60 days of custodial torture.
He further alleged that the case involved organ trade, but the CBI turned it into one of sexual assault and cannibalism.
The Supreme Court will hear the case next on April 29.
Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had argued that the case involved brutal murders.
The Allahabad High Court overturned the death sentences of Koli in twelve cases and Pandher in two cases, stating that circumstantial evidence failed to prove their guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Nithari case, which surfaced in Noida between 2005 and 2006, involved the recovery of 19 children’s and women’s skeletons from a drain behind Moninder Singh Pandher’s bungalow.
The CBI accused Koli of murder, rape, and destruction of evidence, while Pandher faced human trafficking charges.
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