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New Delhi, January 6, 2025 – The Supreme Court of India has set March 25, 2025, for the final hearing of appeals challenging the acquittal of Surendra Koli in the infamous Nithari serial murder cases. These cases, which came to light in 2006, involved horrifying allegations of abduction, rape, and murder, with the skeletal remains of children and women discovered behind a house in Noida's Nithari village.
Surendra Koli, who worked as a domestic help for businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, was convicted and sentenced to death in multiple cases. In October 2023, the Allahabad High Court overturned Koli’s convictions, citing insufficient evidence and serious lapses in the investigation. The court also acquitted Pandher, who had faced convictions in two cases.
A key point of contention in the appeals is Koli's confession, which was recorded after 60 days in police custody, allegedly without legal aid or medical examination. Koli's defense claims the confession was obtained under duress and that allegations of torture were not properly investigated. The High Court also criticized investigators for not pursuing the possibility of organ trade as a motive in the killings.
During the Supreme Court proceedings, Advocate Payoshi Roy, representing Koli, underscored the lack of substantial evidence beyond the disputed confession and sought an expedited hearing given Koli's prolonged detention. The bench, led by Justices B.R. Gavai and A.G. Masih, directed the court registry to secure all trial court records and provide them to involved parties ahead of the March hearing.
The Nithari killings remain one of India's most chilling criminal cases, drawing widespread public outrage and scrutiny over investigative failures. As the legal battle continues, the case highlights critical questions about justice, forensic procedures, and the handling of confessions in custodial settings.
For further developments, stay tuned.
