Nithari Killings Case: SC Reserves Verdict On Surendra Koli’s Curative Plea

Nithari murder case

The Supreme Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict on a curative petition filed by Surendra Koli, who challenged his conviction and death sentence in one of the infamous Nithari murder cases.

During the hearing, the bench observed that Koli’s plea “deserves to be allowed,” hinting at a possible acquittal.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath heard the matter in open court. Noting the inconsistencies in the evidence and Koli’s acquittal in all related cases, the CJI remarked, “This matter deserves to be allowed in a minute.”

If the court allows the curative plea, Koli will walk free, as he has already been acquitted in all other Nithari cases.

Court Questions Basis Of Conviction

The bench pointed out that Koli’s conviction in this particular case was largely based on a confessional statement and the recovery of a kitchen knife, raising serious doubts about the sufficiency of the evidence.

During the hearing, Chief Justice Gavai made a light-hearted remark to Additional Solicitor General Rajkumar Bhaskar Thakare, representing the CBI. “Mr Thakare, as a solicitor, I expect you to be an officer of the court. I have a very good impression of you in Bombay. Let Delhi pollution not pollute you,” the CJI said, drawing smiles in the courtroom.

Background

The Nithari serial killings first came to light on December 29, 2006, when skeletal remains of eight children were discovered from a drain behind businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s house in Nithari, Noida.

Further searches led to the recovery of more remains — most of them belonging to poor children and young women who had gone missing from the area. The CBI took over the investigation within ten days, eventually filing multiple cases against Pandher and Koli.

In total, 19 cases were registered in 2007. The CBI later filed closure reports in 3 for lack of evidence. Koli was convicted in one case, while his death sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment due to delays in deciding his mercy plea.

Koli’s conviction and death sentence were upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011, and his review petition was dismissed in 2014. However, in January 2015, the Allahabad High Court commuted his death sentence to life imprisonment.

In October 2023, the High Court acquitted both Koli and Pandher in several other Nithari cases, overturning the trial court’s 2017 death sentence orders. Koli was acquitted in 12 cases, while Pandher was cleared in two.

The CBI and the victims’ families later challenged these acquittals before the Supreme Court, but on July 30, 2025, a bench headed by CJI Gavai dismissed all 14 appeals, stating there was “no perversity” in the High Court’s judgment.