Noida, Sep 8 (Agencies) : The Supreme Court has stayed the execution of Nithari serial killings convict Surinder Koli for a week in a decision taken late on Sunday.

Koli, whose mercy petition was rejected by the President, was to be hanged on September 12.

Koli was transferred from the Dasna jail in Ghaziabad district to Meerut on September 4 for the execution of his death warrant issued by the CBI court in connection with the Rimpa Haldar murder killing case.

Though there were speculations on the possible date of execution of the Nithari serial killings convict, preparation in the Meerut was in full swing to execute Koli.

Meerut jail superintendent SM Rizvi had even informed the media that the hook and loop to hang Koli had arrived from the Naini central jail.

Koli had also been informed about his impending hanging, and hangman Pawan Singh had inspected the hanging site, the jail official said.

Koli had not expressed any desire to meet his family members. He changed the clothes he was wearing while in Dasna jail on Saturday.

Official said although his behaviour seems to be normal, he was keeping quiet, and says only 'yes' or 'no' to any query. In the last two days, Koli had not demanded anything from the jail staff.

On Saturday afternoon, he came out for 15 minutes from his cell but did not utter a word. He had his meal, did not speak to anyone and went back to his cell. Koli is reading the Bhagavad Gita, which was provided by the jail staff.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad issued a death warrant to Koli after his mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Koli was shifted to Meerut because of the absence of hanging facilities in Dasna.

Koli was convicted for the murder of a girl Rimpa Halder who went missing in Noida in December 2006. After a police investigation, she was found to have been murdered by Koli.

During the probe, the skeletal remains of many other children were recovered from a drain adjacent to a house in Noida where Koli worked as domestic help for businessman Moninder Singh Pandher.

Both Koli and Pandher were sentenced to death, but later the Allahabad High Court acquitted Pandher and upheld the death sentence of Koli.

Koli's sentence was then upheld by the Supreme Court. He filed a mercy petition before the president which was turned down.