Acquitted Butcher of Nithari Dies Less Than Year After Freedom

Surinder Koli, once dubbed the 'Butcher of Nithari,' has died in Haridwar, less than a year after his release from jail. He had walked free on November 12, 2025, following his acquittal in the final case that had kept him incarcerated. Koli's legal battle spanned nearly two decades, during which he faced 13 death sentences.

His closest brush with execution was in September 2014, when he was hours away from being hanged at Meerut district jail. A midnight intervention by lawyer Indira Jaising led to a Supreme Court stay, halting his hanging. Subsequently, the Allahabad high court overturned many of his convictions.

In the years prior to his release, Koli actively participated in his defense, meticulously preparing legal arguments from jail. Lawyers involved in his case raised concerns about the initial investigation, citing a lack of evidence and procedural flaws. Despite being accused of heinous crimes, his convictions were progressively overturned through legal challenges.

Koli's legal journey was marked by a rigorous defense that questioned the voluntariness of his confession and the credibility of forensic evidence. The Allahabad High Court acquitted him in 12 cases in October 2023, and the Supreme Court finally acquitted him in the last pending case in November 2025. Jail officials noted no suicidal tendencies during his confinement.