Haridwar, September 18 (Daily Kiran) : Surendra Koli, a key figure in the notorious Nithari case, was found dead in Haridwar, reigniting discussions around the case that shocked the nation. His body was discovered on Friday in the Bhupatwala area, with initial reports suggesting suicide. However, local police are conducting an investigation to determine the exact cause of death, pending a post-mortem report.
Authorities have informed Koli’s relatives in Almora about his passing. Following the news, some victim families and local residents in Nithari have raised concerns regarding the circumstances of his death. Jhabbu Lal and Sunita, who run a clothing pressing shop in Nithari, expressed suspicions of foul play, questioning why Koli would take his own life when he appeared to be living normally after his release from prison.
Koli had been residing in Haridwar for some time, where he operated a tea stall. It was at this stall that his body was found. Police have begun examining the scene and gathering information about the circumstances leading up to his death, including who was present at the time.
Koli’s notoriety stems from the 2006 Nithari case, which involved the disappearance of children and women that horrified the nation. The discovery of human remains near the D-5 bungalow in Nithari brought the case to national attention. Koli worked as a domestic aide for businessman Maninder Singh Pandher, who was also implicated in the case. Both were convicted in various related crimes, with Koli receiving multiple death sentences.
Legal proceedings surrounding the Nithari case were prolonged, but Koli was eventually acquitted by the Allahabad High Court in several cases. In 2023, following a series of court rulings, Koli and Pandher were released from prison, though some legal matters reached the Supreme Court. On November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court accepted Koli’s curative petition, nullifying his convictions in the pending criminal cases related to the Nithari case.
After his release, Koli moved to Haridwar, where he resumed a quiet life running a tea stall. His recent death has reopened old wounds for the families affected by the Nithari case. The police are currently investigating all possible causes of death, including suicide, and further clarity will emerge following the post-mortem and ongoing investigations.
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