Nithari Killings: Families Lose Faith as Supreme Court Hints at Acquittal of Surendra Koli
Nearly two decades after one of India’s most horrifying crime sprees shocked the nation, the families of the Nithari victims have once again been gripped by despair. As the Supreme Court reserved its verdict in the last pending case against Surendra Koli, one of the two main accused, its remarks suggesting that upholding his conviction would be a “travesty of justice” have reignited old wounds in Noida’s Nithari village.
Families React: ‘We Have Lost All Hope’
For the families who lost their children in the 2006 Nithari killings, the recent court developments have reopened painful memories.
A 63-year-old father, whose 10-year-old daughter’s remains were recovered from the now-infamous D-5 bungalow in Sector 31, said:
“My daughter went missing while returning from school. Since then, I fought for justice, selling everything I had. But now, we have lost all faith. Only God can punish the killers of my child.”
His wife added that she had foreseen the collapse of the case when Moninder Singh Pandher, Koli’s employer and co-accused, was acquitted by the Allahabad High Court in October 2023.
“Every time I pass by the D-5 bungalow, I see my daughter’s face,” she said quietly.
Today, the once-dreaded house lies abandoned, covered in shrubs and silence, mirroring the fading hope of justice for families who still live nearby.
Supreme Court’s Observations: ‘A Travesty of Justice’
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath heard Koli’s curative petition challenging his conviction and death sentence.
The bench pointed out the inconsistency in his conviction:
“If, on the same set of facts, this court has acquitted him in other cases and he is convicted in this one — will this not be a travesty of justice?”
This observation hints that the Supreme Court may soon acquit Koli, who has already been exonerated in 12 out of 13 cases filed against him.
The Nithari Killings: A Timeline of Horror
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Discovery (December 2006): Skeletal remains of at least eight children were found in a drain behind businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s bungalow (D-5) in Noida’s Nithari village.
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Further Recovery: Subsequent searches uncovered more skulls, bones, and mutilated remains, mostly of missing children and young women.
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Arrests: Pandher and his domestic help, Surendra Koli, were arrested on December 29, 2006, following the discovery.
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CBI Investigation: The case was handed to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on January 11, 2007, which filed 16 charge sheets in as many cases. Koli was named in all, Pandher in six.
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Nature of Crimes: The killings were described as serial murders involving sexual assault, cannibalism, and organ trade, though several of these allegations lacked conclusive proof.
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Convictions: Koli was sentenced to death in 2011 in multiple cases, while Pandher received death sentences in others.
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Twists in the Case: In 2015, Koli’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment due to delays in his mercy petition.
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Allahabad HC Acquittal (2023): The Allahabad High Court acquitted both Koli and Pandher, citing serious lapses in the investigation, including violation of evidence collection norms.
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Supreme Court Appeals (2024): The CBI and victims’ families challenged these acquittals, but the Supreme Court dismissed all 14 appeals on July 30, 2024.
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Current Status (2025): The Supreme Court has reserved its verdict in Koli’s final pending case and indicated it “deserves to be allowed.”
The Legal Debate: Confessions and Inconsistencies
The core of the prosecution’s case against Koli was his confessional statement under Section 164 of the CrPC, recorded in March 2007, three months after his arrest. Over time, however, questions emerged about the voluntariness and legality of this confession.
Koli, who initially had legal representation, later chose to represent himself, claiming that his previous lawyers had failed to present his defence properly.
The Allahabad High Court, in its 2023 ruling, had severely criticised the CBI for violating “basic norms of evidence collection,” weakening the foundation of the entire prosecution.
The Human Side of Justice: Nithari’s Enduring Wounds
For the families in Nithari village, the judicial process has offered little solace. Many have moved away, unwilling to relive the trauma, while a few remain — their grief now mingled with resignation.
“We don’t understand the law,” said one parent. “We only know that our children were killed and their bones were found there. If no one is guilty, then what kind of justice is this?”
Their questions hang heavy in the air — unanswered, yet hauntingly valid.
Beyond the Verdict: Questions That Remain
If Koli and Pandher are both acquitted, who killed the children of Nithari?
Was this a botched investigation, or a miscarriage of justice?
And most importantly, what lessons will India’s criminal justice system draw from a case that once symbolised its darkest hour?
Conclusion: Justice Eludes Nithari Once Again
As the Supreme Court prepares to deliver its final word, the Nithari families wait in silence — their hope for closure dimming with each passing year.
The Nithari killings, once a symbol of national outrage, now stand as a chilling reminder of how time, bureaucracy, and flawed investigation can erode justice.
If Surendra Koli walks free after 19 years in prison, India must reckon not just with a legal verdict — but with a moral one.
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