Sumesh Khatri | Haridwar11 minutes ago
Surendra Koli, an accused in the Nithari case, died by suicide by hanging himself in Haridwar today (18 Sept). The incident reportedly took place in Bhupatwala, northern Haridwar.
Koli was released from prison in November 2025 after the Supreme Court acquitted him in the last case against him, following nearly 19 years behind bars.
Koli’s name emerged after children, women went missing
Koli came under the spotlight after several children and women went missing from Noida’s Nithari area in 2005–06.
The discovery of human remains in a drain behind his house on December 29, 2006, triggered nationwide outrage. The CBI subsequently took up the investigation, and Koli faced trials in multiple cases.
Death sentence in 13 cases, acquitted in all
Koli was sentenced to death in 13 cases at one stage. However, the Allahabad High Court acquitted him in 12 cases in 2023. In November 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted him in the final case, leading to his release after nearly 19 years in prison.
Koli rented tea stall just four days before death
Surendra Koli had been living alone in Haridwar for the past few months. According to neighbours, he had rented a small roadside shop around four days ago and had started selling tea there. He had also paid the owner several months’ rent in advance.
Neighbours cite concern over anti-encroachment drive
Neighbours said an anti-encroachment drive was underway in the area as part of preparations for the Kumbh. They said Koli may have feared that his newly rented shop would be removed and that his advance payment would be lost.
However, police are still investigating the circumstances and determining the reason behind his death.
This is the tea stall that Surendra had rented just four days ago.
Human skulls and bones found near Nithari bungalow
Children and women had begun disappearing from Noida’s Nithari area in 2005–06. During the investigation, police reached businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s D-5 bungalow in Sector 31 on December 29, 2006.
Several human skulls, bones, clothes and other items were found in the drain behind the bungalow and nearby areas. Pandher and his domestic help, Surendra Koli, were subsequently arrested.
CBI filed chargesheets in 16 cases
The investigation was handed over to the CBI in January 2007. Police had registered 19 separate FIRs related to missing persons and other crimes, of which the CBI filed chargesheets in 16 cases. Koli was charged with murder, rape, kidnapping and destruction of evidence in these cases.
In 2006, 19 skeletons were found in the drain adjoining this D-5 bungalow in Sector 31, Noida.
How was Koli convicted and later acquitted?
Surendra Koli was convicted based on his confessions and recoveries made at his instance. He was sentenced to death in 13 Nithari cases.
However, courts later questioned the reliability of his confessions and the recoveries. In 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted him in 12 cases.
Supreme Court upheld acquittals in 12 cases
The court held that the confession recorded after around 60 days in police custody could not be considered reliable. On July 30, 2025, the Supreme Court upheld his acquittal in those 12 cases.
Only one case remained pending. On November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court set aside his conviction in that case as well and acquitted him. Koli was subsequently released after spending nearly 19 years in prison.
