Surendra Koli, accused in the infamous Nithari serial killings, has been released from the Luksar district jail in Greater Noida, a day after the Supreme Court acquitted him in the last pending case linked to the 2006 serial murders that had shocked the nation, officials said on Thursday.
The Supreme Court of India has acquitted Surendra Koli in one of the Nithari murder cases, paving the way for his release. Koli was earlier acquitted in other Nithari killing cases.
The apex court in May agreed to hear a plea filed by the father of one of the victims challenging the high court's order acquitting Koli in the case.
Koli's 'admissions' during the tests indicate he used to rape and kill children as an 'ego-satisfying habit' as he was sexually deprived and feared that he was becoming impotent.
The Supreme Court expressed deep regret that the actual perpetrator of the Nithari killings was not established despite a prolonged investigation, while acquitting Surendra Koli in the last Nithari murder case.
The two were charged with rape and murder and sentenced to death by a lower court in the killings in Nithari, Noida, that horrified the nation with the details of sexual assault, brutal murder and hints of possible cannibalism.
A CBI official in New Delhi said the team was waiting for the judgment copy and would take a call on next steps after studying it.
The government on Thursday recommended the rejection of five mercy petitions including that of Surendra Koli sent to the gallows for the infamous serial killing of children in Nithari in Noida and of two sisters sentenced to death for murdering several children.
A Noida court on Wednesday extended the police remand of the two Nithari serial killing accused -- Mohinder Singh Pandher and his servant Surendra Koli -- by two days.
A senior official said the digging operations in search of more body parts have been stopped and cleaning of debris is now underway.
Meanwhile, parents of some children who went missing during the past one year in Dehra Dun have pleaded with the Uttarakhand police to find out their wards.
DFS sources said the medical tests were a prelude to the narco-analysis or "truth serum" tests on the accused and it was during the test that it was revealed that Surendra was diabetic.
The main accused in the Nithari serial murder cases Moninder Singh Pandher, and his co-accused Surinder Koli found guilty of murder and rape in one case by special judge Rama Jain.
"Nithari killings went on for a year and a half but there are no witnesses that would provide clinching evidence," he said. He ruled out the case being transferred out of Ghaziabad unless there is a court directive to do the same.
Pandher, in his fifties, fainted after the attack by lawyers, who were joined by the public in the assault, enraged over the grisly killings at his Noida residence.
The DGP told media persons that Koli confessed before interrogators that he tried to eat human flesh, but vomitted.
"The narcoanalysis of the accused will be conducted in Ahmedabad on January 5," Sharma told reporters in Noida.
The duo were produced before special CBI Judge Sapna Misra, who sent them to 14 days remand for the murder of Nanda Devi, Pandher's maid servant.
CBI sources said the polygraph test was necessitated after she continuously changed her statements.
A preliminary post-mortem report said there were no torso bones among the remains, he said.
The Allahabad high court on Monday granted bail to Moninder Singh Pandher, a prime accused in the infamous Nithari serial killings, in five cases but he is unlikely to come out of the jail as at least eight other cases of murder were still pending against him.
The court has also slapped a fine of Rs 35,000 on Koli and Rs 25,000 on Pandher, CBI spokesperson said.
Rediff.com looks at other sensational murder mysteries that left India shell-shocked.
© 2026 Rediff.com - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances