New Delhi, November 12, 2025: The Supreme Court of India has acquitted Surendra Koli, the prime accused in the infamous Nithari serial killings, citing serious lapses in the police investigation and the absence of conclusive forensic evidence. The top court’s judgment, delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Vikram Nath, upholds the Allahabad High Court’s previous acquittal and emphasizes that conviction cannot be based solely on suspicion or circumstantial evidence.

Koli had been serving a life sentence in one remaining case, while he and his co-accused, Mohinder Singh Pandher, had already been acquitted in several other related cases. The Supreme Court’s verdict effectively clears Koli of all charges linked to the heinous incidents that occurred in Nithari between 2005 and 2006.

Circumstantial Evidence Insufficient

The bench observed that the circumstantial evidence presented against Koli was not corroborated by forensic proof. Despite decades of investigation, there was no admissible scientific evidence linking Koli to the alleged crimes. Key aspects of the police inquiry, including leads related to the organ trade, were reportedly neglected. The court also found that Koli’s alleged confession could not be considered reliable, noting that he had been held in custody for over 60 days without access to legal counsel or medical examination.

The trial magistrate’s recording of Koli’s statement indicated possible custodial torture, further undermining the credibility of the confession. The Supreme Court noted multiple investigative lapses, including delays in securing the crime scene, contradictory remand and recovery papers, incomplete forensic documentation, and failure to conduct timely medical examinations.

Investigation Discrepancies Highlighted

The bench highlighted several discrepancies in the police investigation. It questioned how a “semi-educated domestic help with no medical training” could have carried out the precise dismemberment of human bodies as alleged. The knives, axes, and human remains found outside Pandher’s residence in D-5 Sector 32, Noida, were not admissibly linked to Koli. Additionally, forensic analysis failed to detect human bloodstains or remains consistent with the alleged crimes in Koli’s possession or residence.

The court criticized the police for their failure to interview key household and neighborhood witnesses, as well as for ignoring material leads that could have clarified the chain of events. The cumulative effect of these investigative failures, the bench concluded, made it impossible to meet the legal standard of proof required for conviction.

Immediate Release Ordered

Following the verdict, the Supreme Court ordered the immediate release of Surendra Koli. He has been in prison since 2006, when the Nithari killings first came to public attention. The court stressed that criminal law requires proof beyond a reasonable doubt and that suspicion, however grave, cannot replace concrete evidence.

Regret for Victims’ Families

While delivering the judgment, the bench expressed deep regret over the suffering endured by the victims’ families. Describing the alleged crimes as “exceptionally heinous,” the court acknowledged the prolonged investigation and the public outrage surrounding the case. However, it reiterated that legal standards could not be compromised, and convictions must be firmly grounded in evidence rather than conjecture.

“The offences in Nithari were heinous, and the suffering of the families is beyond measure. It is a matter of deep regret that despite prolonged investigation, the identity of the actual perpetrator has not been established in a manner that meets legal standards. Criminal law does not permit conviction on conjecture or on a hunch. Suspicion, however grave, cannot replace proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” the bench stated.

Legacy of the Nithari Case

The Nithari killings, which came to light in the mid-2000s, shocked the nation with the scale and brutality of the alleged crimes. The case has remained in public memory due to its grisly nature and the apparent involvement of domestic help and associates in the commission of the crimes. The Supreme Court’s acquittal of Koli underscores the critical importance of thorough and scientifically supported investigation, particularly in cases involving serious offenses against human life.

The judgment also serves as a reminder to law enforcement agencies of the legal obligations to follow proper investigative procedures, including timely forensic analysis, secure crime scene management, and safeguarding the rights of the accused. Despite the acquittal, the tragedy of the Nithari case remains etched in the collective memory of the nation, highlighting the need for both procedural rigor and accountability in criminal investigations.