Nithari Killings: As Court Acquits Accused, Here Is A Recap Of 'House Of Horror' Case In Noida

Nithari Killings: In 2006, a murder case in Nithari Village, Noida district, Uttar Pradesh, shocked the entire nation. Indians could not believe that criminals could stoop to this level. The 2006 Noida serial murders had two accused who were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court on October 16, 2023.

The two-judge bench comprising justices SHA Rizvi and Justices Ashwani Kumar were hearing an appeal by accused Surendra Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher in which they had challenged the death sentence ordered by a CBI court in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

According to reports, Sunita Devi and Jhabbu Lal who lost their daughter in 2006 said that they were not happy with the judgement. “What kind of law is this which is acquitting these monsters,” Sunita Devi was quoted saying.

We bring you a recap of the case to refresh your memory on what happened in 2006, and why the case was being heard in 2023.

Nithari Killings: 'House Of Horrors'; Recap Of The Murder Case In Noida

In December 2006, two people from Nithari village reported that they were aware of the location of the remains of two kids who were reported to be missing since 2004. They said that one can find the remains in the municipal water tank behind house D5, Sector 31, Noida.

Parents who had filed the complaint about missing daughters suspected that Surinder Koli, who was a house help in house D5, was involved in these events. Residents also accused local authorities of ignoring them and went straight to former Resident Welfare Association (RWA) President S C Mishra. The same morning, Mishra along with two more residents searched the entire premise and found a decomposed hand post which they filed a complaint with the police.

Koli confessed that he used a false name, Satish, and killed a 20-year-old woman, Payal, and six children after sexually abusing them.

Families of the missing kids also accused the police of negligence because they told them that they had lied about the age of their daughters, calling them minors. According to the police, the missing girls were adults who ran after fighting with their parents. Another resident accused the police of taking the credit for digging up the remains.

There was a rumour that the police found 15 bodies which they denied. They confessed to finding remains, including skulls, body parts, and bones. Soon they sealed the house and did not allow anyone, including the media, near it.

On December 26 or 27, 2006, Koli and his employer Moninder Singh Pandher were taken into custody to ask about the disappearance of Payal. Post Koli’s confession, the police started to search the nearby area to find the remains of other kids.

The villagers were aggravated and fought with the police which included stone pelting too. They also suspected that Pandher used to lure women. As the police found more bodies, the residents in the area claimed that the accused were involved in illegal organ trade. In fact, a doctor living close by Pander’s house was under the radar of police for quite a few years in connection with an illegal kidney racket at his hospital.

Nithari Killings: Primary Investigation And False Claims

In January 2007, the police were in the custody of Koli and Pandher until January 10, 2007, as mandated by the remand magistrate. They wanted to conduct further investigations to find the remains of all the victims.

Pandher’s family in Chandigarh was interrogated. Police said he and his wife were separated, which later was found to be false. The same year, kidnapping cases in Chandigarh were also reopened to find out if he was connecting with any of them. The police did not find any evidence.

The police discovered 15-17 skeletons. When images of missing kids were shown to Koli, he confessed to killing 10 of them. The other five remains were identified by the belongings that were found with them, leaving the parents of the victims in deep horror. The police also found torsos which confirmed that illegal organ trade was at play. They also confirmed that there were at least 31 child victims.

Nithari Killings: Suspicion Of Cannibalism And Organ Trade

Even before polygraph tests were conducted, media reports suggested that one of the accused was involved in cannibalism. Reports pointed out that he even confessed to consuming body parts and livers of victims. Considering how the story was progressing, the investigating team did not rule out the possibility but the brutality of the crime left them aghast.

When further analysis and brain mapping were performed on the accused, Koli confessed to committing the crimes but gave a clean chit to his employer, Pandher. He said that Pandher was unaware of what Koli was doing.

Koli also shared that he killed everyone by strangulating them. He would sexually abuse (What Is Sexual Harassment) the bodies before dismembering them in his bathroom. On the other hand, Pandher was called a depressed womaniser.

Nithari Killings: CBI Investigation Revealed New Things

On the night of January 11, 2007, the accused were taken to the CBI headquarters in Mumbai Jail. The following day, the CBI asked questions and the investigation led them to find three more skulls. They started searching drains and found other body parts, including bones, legs, and torso. The belongings of the victims were sealed.

Since the investigation led to organs and body parts in polythene bags, the CBI said that illegal organs could hardly be the case. They also called Koli a ‘psychopath’ and concluded that Pandher might be innocent. The CBI studied photo albums, mobile phones, photographs, and other things found in the house or with victims. They found only 15 skulls and said the police lied about finding 17.

Nithari Killings: Study Of Victims’ Remains Revealed Gory Details

According to the investigation, Payal was the only adult victim. Post-mortem reports pointed out that 11 skulls were of young girls. Doctors at the Noida Government Hospital revealed that bodies were cut with ‘butcher-like precision’.

On February 6, 2007, a report by AIIMS pointed out that there were 19 skulls of which 16 were complete and three were damaged. The reports also talked about the pattern of killings.

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Nithari Killings: Timeline Of Convictions

• On February 12, 2009, Pandher and Koli were convicted for murdering Rimpa Haldar (14) on February 8, 2005, by a special sessions court in Ghaziabad. This was shocking for the CBI because they gave a clean chit to Pandher.
• On February 13, 2009, the accused were given the death sentence.
• On May 4, 2010, Koli was found guilty of murdering Arti Prasad (7) on October 25, 2006. He was given a second death sentence.
• On September 10, 2010, Koli was convicted of killing Rachna Lal (9) on April 10, 2006. It followed the third death sentence.
• On December 22, 2010, Koli was found guilty of murdering Deepali Sarkar (12) in June 2006. This followed the fourth death sentence.
• On February 15, 2011, the Supreme Court of India upheld the death sentence of Koli.
• On December 24, 2012, Koli was found guilty of killing Chhoti Kavita (5), on June 4, 2005. It was followed by the fifth death sentence.
• In July 2014, the President of India denied Koli’s mercy petition. In September 2014, a death warrant was issued against Koli in the Nithari case. He was supposed to be hanged on September 12, 2014. However, the date got postponed by a week.
• On January 28, 2015, Koli’s death sentence was converted to life imprisonment following a dispute on his mercy plea. In 2019, he was given a death sentence in the 10th conviction.
• On September 10, 2009, the Allahabad High Court overturned the death sentence of Pandher and acquitted him.
• On July 24, 2017, both Koli and Pandher were given the death sentence by the CBI court in Ghaziabad.
• On October 16, 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted both accused on the grounds of lack of evidence.

According to reports, the parents of the victims are not happy with the decision. They have been quoted saying, “Justice denied,” while responding about the latest acquittal of both accused despite them being given the death penalty multiple times.

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While both the accused are currently in jail, families of the victims have left the area and now reside somewhere else.