Surendra Koli, who was one of the main accused in the infamous 2006 Nithari serial killings case in Noida, died by suicide in Haridwar, Uttarakhand, on Friday, September 18, 2026, nearly a year after the Supreme Court acquitted him in the last case against him.
Koli was found hanging inside a tea stall where he had reportedly been working for the past few days. The incident took place in the Bhupatwala area of Haridwar.
According to reports, police received information about the incident and reached the tea kiosk located opposite Lalmata Temple on Sapt Sarovar Road. Koli was reportedly identified through his Aadhaar card, after which his relatives were informed.
Police have started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. Officials are examining the available evidence and other aspects of the case. Reports have mentioned a possible family-related issue, but police have not yet established a confirmed reason for the suicide.
Supreme Court Had Acquitted Koli in 2025
Koli had spent almost 19 years in prison in connection with the Nithari cases. His convictions were challenged in different courts over the years, eventually leading to a series of acquittals.
In October 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted Koli in 12 cases linked to the Nithari killings. The court had raised concerns over the investigation and the evidence presented against him.
The Supreme Court later dismissed challenges to those acquittals in July 2025.
However, Koli remained in custody because of another conviction involving the rape and murder of teenager Rimpa Haldar. His death sentence in that case had earlier been reduced to life imprisonment by the Allahabad High Court in 2015.
The Supreme Court eventually considered Koli’s curative petition in November 2025 and set aside his conviction in the final case pending against him. The bench, headed by then Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath, directed that he be released if he was not required in any other case.
The court found that the prosecution evidence was not sufficient to uphold the conviction. It also examined concerns surrounding Koli’s confession, the alleged recoveries and the overall evidentiary chain presented by the prosecution.
The Supreme Court observed that serious gaps in the investigation and evidence could not be overcome by suspicion and that a criminal conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Nithari Killings Shocked Noida in 2006
The Nithari killings came to light in December 2006 after human remains were discovered near a house in Nithari, Noida. Further searches resulted in the recovery of additional remains, leading to multiple criminal cases.
Koli and businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, who lived at the house, were arrested during the investigation. The Central Bureau of Investigation later took over the probe.
The case became one of the most closely watched criminal investigations in India, with several cases eventually reaching the higher courts.
Koli was released from prison in November 2025 following his acquittal in the final case against him.
His death in Haridwar on September 18, 2026, has added a new development to the long-running Nithari case. Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
