Surinder Koli, who was acquitted of all charges by the Supreme Court in 2025 in connection with the 2006 Nithari serial killings, has died allegedly by suicide in the Bhupatwala area of Haridwar, Uttarakhand. His body was sent for a post-mortem examination as police began an investigation into his death.
Surendra Koli found dead at Haridwar tea stall
Koli’s body was found at a tea stall on Sapt Sarovar Road near Lal Mata Temple in Bhupatwala, North Haridwar. He had reportedly been running the stall after moving to Haridwar following his release from prison.
Local people alerted police after finding him hanging inside the shop. A team from the Saptarishi police outpost reached the spot and took the body into custody.
Police identified the deceased as Surendra Koli, who was originally from the Bhikiyasen area of Uttarakhand’s Almora district.
No suicide note found, police begin probe
Police did not find a suicide note at the scene. Koli’s body was sent for a post-mortem examination and his family was informed about his death.
The circumstances that led to his death have not yet been established. Police are investigating the case and further details are expected after the post-mortem examination and other inquiries are completed.
Who was Surendra Koli?
Koli became one of the main accused in the Nithari killings cases after human remains were discovered near businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s house in Noida in December 2006. Koli had worked as a domestic help at Pandher’s house.
The discovery led to a series of criminal cases connected with the disappearance and deaths of children and young women. Koli was convicted in several cases and spent years in prison.
Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli in 12 Nithari cases
In October 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli in 12 cases linked to the Nithari killings. His conviction in one other case, however, remained in place.
The legal battle over that final conviction continued before the Supreme Court.
Supreme Court cleared Surendra Koli in final case in 2025
On November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed Koli’s curative petition and set aside his conviction in the last remaining Nithari case.
The court found that the conviction could not remain when the same confession and related evidence had been found unreliable in the connected cases in which Koli had already been acquitted.
The Supreme Court ordered that Koli be released immediately if he was not required in any other case. The ruling cleared him of the final criminal charge against him in the Nithari cases.
Police start investigation
Haridwar Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Koli’s death. The post-mortem examination is expected to help establish the medical cause and approximate time of death.
