SC acquits Surendra Koli in Nithari killings, flags police lapses
SC acquits Surendra Koli in Nithari killings, flags police lapses
The Supreme Court acquits Surendra Koli in the lone Nithari case, citing lack of forensic proof and police investigation gaps.
The Supreme Court acquitted Surendra Koli in the lone Nithari case where a life term was still in place, a verdict that also mirrored earlier acquittals in related cases for Koli and his co-accused Mohinder Singh Pandher. The bench agreed with the Allahabad high court’s view that conviction cannot rest on suspicion, especially when key relatives of the case cast doubt on the linkage. The court pointed to circumstantial evidence that did not hold up against forensic proof and criticized the investigation for neglecting important avenues, including leads related to organ trade.
The justices highlighted how Koli’s alleged confession could not be considered reliable, noting that he remained in custody for over 60 days without access to legal aid or a medical examination. They also raised concerns about possible torture signals in custody, which the trial magistrate had recorded. The verdict underscored several lapses in the police work: delays in securing the crime scene, remand and recovery papers that conflicted, absent timely medical examinations, and incomplete forensic documentation. The court found numerous discrepancies in the investigation and stated that the evidence did not explain how a semi-educated domestic helper with no medical training could have carried out precise dismemberment of bodies.
The decision drew attention to the lack of an admissible link between knives, axes and human remains found outside Pandher’s Noida residence and Koli. The bench also criticized the police’s failure to question key household and neighborhood witnesses, raising questions about the thoroughness of the probe. Victim families and observers have questioned how the case could be sustained on such grounds, with some phrases and lines from the coverage hinting at broader concerns about truth, accountability, and the rush to judgment in high-profile crimes. The ruling serves as a stark reminder of the need for robust forensic backing and rigorous investigative standards in complex murder cases.
Cover image source: ‘Did a ghost kill our kids?’: Nithari victim families question after Supreme Court acquits Surendra Koli 🔗
