Surinder Koli, one of the two men previously convicted in the notorious Nithari serial killings that shocked India in 2006, has been found dead in Haridwar in the state of Uttarakhand. He was discovered hanging near the area where he had recently set up a small tea kiosk following his release from prison after being acquitted by the Delhi High Court.
Koli, who was originally convicted along with Moninder Singh Pandher in connection with the murders of several children in the Nithari locality of southwest Delhi, had spent over a decade behind bars before his conviction was overturned in 2013 on the basis of insufficient evidence and alleged police mishandling of the investigation. Following his acquittal, he attempted to restart his life away from the spotlight, adopting the alias Sada Ram and keeping his true identity hidden even from many around him.
Local police have registered a case and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Authorities currently view suicide as the most likely explanation, citing that he was found suspended from an elevated position near his tea stall. However, their inquiry is ongoing, and no final conclusion has been announced.
Social activist Shoma Sen, who had been actively involved in monitoring Koli's post-acquittal life, expressed serious doubts about the suicide theory. She alleged that Koli had been facing持续 harassment and intimidation following his release, which may have driven him to take his own life or been a factor in a possible criminal act against him. Sen has called for a thorough and transparent probe into the incident.
Koli's family members, who were not immediately informed of the details, have stated they are unaware of any specific threat or reason that could have led to his death. They have requested a fair investigation and have cooperated with local authorities, providing statements to help clarify events leading up to the discovery of his body.
The Nithari case remains one of the most widely discussed criminal cases in recent Indian history, involving the abduction, sexual assault, and murder of multiple young girls. The controversy around forensic evidence, custodial torture allegations, and procedural lapses during the original investigation continued to draw public attention even after the high court verdict. Koli's death in Haridwar has reopened conversations about the treatment of acquitted individuals and the social stigma they face in rebuilding their lives.
