Nithari Case: Surendra Koli Found Dead in Haridwar

Nithari Case: Surendra Koli, a central accused in the Nithari killings case, was found dead at a tea stall in Haridwar on Friday. Police believe he may have died by suicide. However, the investigation is still underway and the exact circumstances have not been established.

Koli had moved to Haridwar a few months ago and had started running a small tea stall near Lal Mata Temple on Sapt Sarovar Road. Police were alerted about the incident at around 11 am and reached the spot shortly afterwards. No suicide note was found, according to the police.

The reason behind his death remains unclear. Police are looking into several aspects of the case, including reports of a family dispute. A forensic team has also examined the location as part of the investigation.

Koli’s death comes after a long legal battle over his alleged involvement in the Nithari killings. The Supreme Court acquitted him in the last case against him in November 2025 and ordered his release, provided he was not required in any other matter. By then, courts had already cleared him in several other cases linked to the killings.

The Nithari case first shocked the country in December 2006, when skeletal remains were found in a drain near a house in Nithari, Noida. The property belonged to businessman Moninder Singh Pandher. Koli worked at the house at the time.

The discovery followed complaints about children and young people going missing from the area. The investigation soon expanded, with Koli and Pandher arrested in connection with multiple cases. The allegations included kidnapping, sexual assault and murder.

Koli was convicted in several cases by lower courts and was handed multiple death sentences during the proceedings. Pandher was also convicted in some of the cases. Both men challenged the convictions through different levels of the judicial system.

A major turn came in October 2023, when the Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in two. The court pointed to weaknesses in the prosecution case and problems with the evidence presented during the proceedings.

The legal proceedings did not end there. The cases reached the Supreme Court, which later considered Koli’s remaining conviction. In November 2025, the apex court set aside that conviction as well and directed that he be released if there was no other case requiring his custody.

For nearly two decades, the Nithari killings remained a closely watched criminal case, with the investigation, convictions and subsequent acquittals attracting considerable public attention. The court proceedings also highlighted the importance of reliable evidence in criminal trials.

Koli had been living a relatively low profile life in Haridwar after his release. His decision to run a tea stall marked a sharp change from the years he had spent in custody and court proceedings.

His death has once again put the Nithari case in the spotlight. For now, Haridwar police are examining the circumstances at the tea stall and trying to establish what happened before Koli was found dead. The possible reason mentioned in preliminary reports has not been officially confirmed, and investigators are expected to establish the cause after completing their inquiry.