Nithari case: Acquitted accused Surendra Koli found dead in Haridwar tea stall

Surendra Koli, the domestic help who was the central figure in the Nithari killings and was later cleared in every case linked to the crimes, was found dead at his tea stall in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Friday, police said. Officers suspect he ended his own life.

According to the Haridwar Kotwali police station, the Saptarishi outpost was informed that a man had been found dead at a tea shop on Sapt Sarovar road. The deceased was identified as Koli, a resident of Mangrukhal in Almora district.

Shishupal Singh Negi, circle officer for the city, said Koli had been living in Haridwar for some time and ran the stall on rent. "Police received information this morning that a person had been found dead. Our forensic team reached the spot. At present, it appears to be a case of suicide. The body is in police custody, and the panchanama and post-mortem proceedings are underway," he said.

Koli had worked at the Noida residence of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher. The Nithari case surfaced in 2006, when skeletal remains, skulls and bones were recovered from the backyard and drains near Pandher's bungalow in Sector 31, Noida. The discoveries, which pointed to the disappearance and killing of several children and women, sparked outrage across the country and spread fear in the local community.

Pandher, a co-accused, spent years in jail before his release on October 20, 2023, after he was acquitted. Koli was the only person convicted in the case. In 2025, the Supreme Court acquitted him in the last outstanding matter, the 13th case against him. He had already been cleared in the other 12.

The apex court allowed his curative petition challenging his conviction in the case involving the alleged rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl in Nithari. A bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath observed that criminal law does not permit conviction on conjecture or a hunch. The bench noted that the offences were heinous and the suffering of the families beyond measure, while stating that suspicion, however grave, cannot replace proof beyond a reasonable doubt and that courts cannot prefer expediency over legality. It also said the presumption of innocence holds until guilt is established through admissible and reliable evidence, and that when proof fails, the only lawful outcome is to set aside a conviction, even in a case involving horrific crimes.

Those in distress or having suicidal tendencies can seek help and counselling by calling any of the helpline numbers available for the purpose.