The last rites of Surendra Koli, who spent nearly two decades in prison in connection with the Nithari killings, were performed at a crematorium in Haridwar on Saturday. Koli, 50, was found dead at his tea stall in the city on Friday, months after he was acquitted in all 13 cases linked to the killings.
His funeral was held at the Khadkhadi crematorium after a panel of doctors conducted his postmortem. Police said they are waiting for the postmortem and forensic reports before deciding on further action.
“Police action will depend on these reports. All angles are being looked into,” City police station in-charge KS Rana said.
Koli’s 20-year-old son, Shivam Koli, performed the last rites. He had travelled from Almora to Haridwar after learning about his father’s death. Other family members, local residents, vendors and police personnel were also present at the cremation.
Koli’s family said he had been trying to rebuild his life after his release from prison. A family friend said the past two decades had been difficult for the family and that Koli had recently been attempting to earn a living.
A close friend, Narayan Singh Rawat, called for a fair investigation into Koli’s death, saying questions remained about the circumstances in which he died. Police have said that all possible angles are being examined and that the forensic and postmortem findings will guide the next steps.
Koli had reportedly been living a low-profile life in Haridwar and running a small tea stall. According to people who knew him, he did not reveal his real identity to several acquaintances.
The Nithari killings came to light in 2006 after skeletal remains of several children were discovered in a drain near businessman Moninder Singh Pandher’s residence in Noida. Koli worked as a domestic help at the house. Both Koli and Pandher were arrested during the investigation.
Koli was subsequently convicted in multiple cases and spent almost 20 years behind bars. However, his legal battle continued for years.
On November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court allowed Koli’s curative petition in the final remaining case, set aside his conviction and ordered his release unless he was wanted in another case.
His death in Haridwar has now led to a police investigation. Authorities are awaiting the postmortem and forensic reports to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.
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