The Supreme Court has issued a notice to Surinder Koli, challenging his acquittal by the Allahabad High Court in 12 cases related to the infamous Nithari killings. Koli, along with his employer Moninder Singh Pandher, was previously convicted and sentenced to death by a trial court for the sexual assault, murder, and cannibalism of minor girls.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed petitions arguing that the Allahabad High Court’s decision to acquit Koli was erroneous, given the severity of the crimes and the earlier death penalty verdict. The case, which shocked the nation in 2006, involved the discovery of human remains near Pandher’s residence in Nithari village, Noida.
Initially, Koli was found guilty of murder, abduction, rape, and destruction of evidence in over 10 cases, resulting in multiple death sentences. However, the Allahabad High Court’s recent ruling overturned these convictions, acquitting both Koli and Pandher.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear the plea comes after a victim’s father challenged the High Court’s acquittal order. As the case moves forward, it continues to draw attention to the horrific nature of the crimes and the complexities of the Indian justice system.
