Nithari murders: Surendra Koli, the accused, was discovered dead in Haridwar; authorities believe he committed suicide.

Surendra Koli was discovered dead inside a tea store in the Bhupatwala neighborhood of Haridwar on Friday. For almost twenty years, his name was linked to the Nithari killings that horrified the country in 2006. Although the circumstances surrounding his death are being looked into, police claimed preliminary findings suggested suicide.

Within the boundaries of the Haridwar City Kotwali police station, Koli’s (50) body was found at the kiosk across from the Lal Mata Temple. After being notified by the locals, the police arrived at the scene, took possession of the body, and started questioning nearby residents.

Police identified Koli as the son of Shanku Ram and a native of Mangrukhal village in the Bhikiyasain area of Uttarakhand’s Almora district.

“Prima facie, it appears to be a case of suicide. However, the reasons and the circumstances leading to the death are under investigation,” police said. No immediate details about a possible motive were disclosed.

The preliminary investigation revealed that Koli had previously worked as a security guard in Roshnabad and had been residing in Haridwar for a few months. According to reports, he came to the Bhupatwala neighborhood four days ago and began running the tea kiosk where his body was discovered.

Investigators are currently compiling details regarding his contacts, travels, and recent activities. On December 29, 2006, multiple skeleton remains were found in a drain behind businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s home in Sector 31 in Noida, where Koli was employed as a domestic helper. The remains were connected to young women and children from the poor Nithari neighborhood who had been reported missing.

The case involving Koli sparked nationwide outrage, leading to a lengthy investigation and multiple trials. Initially convicted and sentenced to death, Koli and co-defendant Pandher were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court in October 2023 due to serious investigative shortcomings. In November 2025, the Supreme Court also acquitted Koli, enabling his release.

However, this came after years of social isolation; Koli’s mother passed away, and his wife and children left their village. Koli’s family suffered ongoing humiliation, leaving their ancestral home abandoned. Local leader Narayan Singh Rawat played a critical role in securing a late-night legal intervention to halt Koli’s execution. The case remains one of India’s most troubling criminal investigations, leaving its victims’ families in a state of mourning.