Prayagraj (Uttar Pradesh): In a stunning turn of events, the Allahabad High Court has acquitted the two prime accused in the infamous Nithari murder case, overturning their previous convictions.
Surinder Koli, who had been sentenced to death in 12 cases against him, and his co-accused Moninder Singh Pandher, found guilty in two cases, have now been declared innocent, resulting in the cancellation of their death sentences.
A two-judge bench comprising Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra and Justice SHA Rizvi allowed the appeals filed by Koli and Pandher challenging the death sentence given by the CBI court in Ghaziabad. The high court said the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. A total of 19 cases were lodged against businessman Pandher and his domestic help Koli in 2007. The CBI had filed closure reports in three of the 19 cases due to lack of evidence.
The sensational killings came to light with the discovery of the skeletal remains of eight children from the drain behind Pandher's house in Nithari, Noida, on December 29, 2006. Further digging and searches of drains in the area around Pandher's house led to more skeletal remains being found. Most of these remains were that of poor children and young women who had gone missing from the area.
Following this gruesome revelation, a thorough investigation led to the apprehension of Koli and his employer, Pandher. A total of 16 cases were registered against Koli, leading to his conviction and sentencing to death in 12 of them. The horror of these crimes led to their swift arrest and convictions.
The serial killings, which horrified the nation, unfolded within the confines of Moninder Pandher's home, infamously known as the "house of horrors." Koli, who worked as a help in Pandher's residence, would allegedly lure innocent children into the house, where they were subjected to unspeakable acts of rape and murder. The police further alleged that the perpetrators dismembered the victims' bodies, scattering the remains in nearby drains to conceal the evidence.
The case escalated to national prominence when the body parts of a missing child were discovered near Pandher's residence. This gruesome finding triggered an extensive investigation, ultimately revealing the identities of multiple other victims. The allegations surrounding these murders included mutilation and even cannibalism, which captivated the nation's attention for an extended period.
The horrific nature of the crimes prompted the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to take over the case from local authorities, leading to the filing of 19 cases against Pandher and Koli in 2007. Surinder Koli, in particular, was found guilty of the rape and murder of several children at his employer's residence. Shockingly, Koli had even confessed to engaging in acts of necrophilia and consuming body parts of the deceased victims.
Apart from the murders of children, the duo was also convicted for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman. The Nithari murder case not only exposed the depths of human depravity but also showcased the importance of a thorough and just legal process.
