Surendra Koli, acquitted in 2006 Nithari killings, dies by suicide in Haridwar

Surendra Koli, who was acquitted last year in connection to the infamous 2005-2006 Nithari serial killings in Noida, died by suicide by hanging, police said on Friday.

Following his acquittal by the Supreme Court in November 2025, Koli, in his early 50s, moved to Haridwar, where he had been running a tea stall for the past few days.

The verdict was significant as it was the 13th and final case against Koli. He had already been acquitted in 12 other cases, and the latest acquittal left him free from the cases related to the gruesome killings.

In its verdict, the Supreme Court said that circumstantial evidence against Koli lacked forensic support and pointed to serious lapses, including failure to investigate leads related to the alleged organ trade.

The Nithari killings came to light in December 2006 after skeletal remains of children were found in a drain behind the house of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida's Nithari area. Pandher and Koli, who worked as domestic help at his house, were arrested.

At least 19 children were confirmed dead.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which took over the case, filed multiple cases against Koli on charges including murder, abduction, rape and destruction of evidence. Pandher was charged in a case related to immoral trafficking.