Surendra Koli, acquitted of the Nithari murders, was found dead in Haridwar

In this May 12, 2010 picture, Nithari case accused Surendra Koli is brought before a CBI court from Dasna jail in Ghaziabad. File | Photo credit: PTI

Barely a year after he was acquitted in all 13 cases related to the sensational Nithari murders, Surendra Koli, the man at the center of the crime, was found dead in Haridwar, police said on Friday (18 Sep 2026).

According to Deputy Superintendent of Police, Haridwar Shishupal Singh Negi, Koli was found dead in the tea stall he was running in the Saprishi area for the past few days.

“We came to know about the person hanging inside the tea stall from the locals. A police team reached the spot and it was identified as Surendra Koli from the Aadhaar card found in his pocket,” the official said. He added that at first glance it appeared that Koli had died by suicide.

“A forensics team has been asked to examine the scene and the body has been sent for post-mortem,” Mr Negi said. His family in Almora was informed and they were on their way to identify him.

According to police sources, soon after he was acquitted by the Supreme Court in November 2025, Koli came to Haridwar where he started working as a security guard in a private firm using a false identity.

“We have also recovered the 2001 voter card from him and named him as Sadaram. He had to use this identity to apply for a job.

Narayan Singh, a social activist from Koli’s hometown who helped him fight the cases against him, said he recently gave him ₹25,000 to set up a tea stall.

“I’m not sure why he would kill himself when he had plans for the future,” Mr Singh asked.

An official involved in the investigation said those living around his tea stall shared that he was in desperate need of money for a loved one’s birthday.

“That may probably be his daughter from his wife who left after the case came to light,” the official said.

National attention

In 2006, Nithari village in Noida’s Sector 31 became the focus of national attention after several children went missing. Despite several complaints to the police, the case gained wider attention in December when skeletal remains were discovered in a canal near the home of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher. Koli was a domestic worker employed in Pandher’s house.

Dissatisfied with the initial police investigation, which reportedly focused on the possibility of “drunken rioters” being involved, the families of the missing went to court. After judicial intervention, the police formed a special team to interrogate Koli.

The indictment was filed in more than 16 cases involving charges of murder, kidnapping, rape and destruction of evidence and immoral trafficking, Koli says, confessing to killing one of the missing girls. He also told investigators that he dismembered her body before disposing of the remains, including the head and slippers, in a closed gallery behind Pandher’s residence.

Police also told the court that Koli also confessed to killing several other missing women and children in a similar manner. Based on the information he provided, investigators recovered 14 more skulls from the same tunnel where excavations had already begun.

The investigation was subsequently transferred from the local police to the Central Bureau of Investigation. Koli and Pandher were arrested in connection with 16 cases.

In 2009, the court convicted both and awarded them the death penalty.

Both approached the Allahabad High Court, which upheld Koli’s conviction but acquitted Pandher in 2009, citing insufficient material evidence against him.

Koli’s appeals continued for years. Between 2010 and 2021, he was convicted in 12 other Nithari cases.

A major turning point in the case came in October 2023 when the Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli on all 12 counts. The court cited shortcomings in the investigation and lack of evidence.

The Supreme Court subsequently upheld the acquittals in November 2025 and ordered Koli’s release.

Those who are in distress or suicidal can seek help and advice from Sanjivini, Mental Health Society: 011-40769002.

Published – 18 Sep 2026 15:37 IST