Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 12: The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared Surendra Koli, infamously known as the “Butcher of Nithari,” of all charges, allowing his curative petition and formally closing one of India’s most sensationalized criminal cases.
A bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath announced the verdict, with Justice Nath stating, “The curative petition is allowed.” Koli, 53, who had faced 19 criminal cases along with his employer Mohinder Singh Pandher, is now acquitted and will be released from jail.
Background of the Case
The Nithari killings of 2006 shocked the nation after minors went missing from the village, and human remains were discovered in a drain outside Pandher’s residence in Noida Sector-31, later dubbed the “House of Horrors.”
Koli, a domestic worker, and Pandher faced allegations of abduction, rape, cannibalism, and organ theft. Koli was initially convicted and sentenced to death in one of the 19 cases. Over the years, multiple cases were closed due to insufficient evidence, and Koli’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2015 by the Allahabad High Court, citing inordinate delay in the mercy petition.
In 2023, both Koli and Pandher were acquitted, with the court noting that the prosecution had failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt and describing the investigation as “botched up.”
Supreme Court Verdict
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court’s ruling suspended all other punishments against Koli, giving him a “new life” free from any criminal record. The decision marks the formal closure of a long-drawn legal and media saga, which had captured national attention due to its grisly details.
The case was initially investigated by the Noida police and later transferred to the CBI, which had filed 19 FIRs related to the alleged serial killings.
Koli’s release underscores the consequences of flawed investigations and media sensationalism, highlighting the need for careful handling of high-profile criminal cases.