Nithari killings: Koli gets third death penalty

GHAZIABAD - Surendra Koli, prime accused in the 2005-06 Nithari serial killings in Uttar Pradesh, was sentenced to death by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Tuesday for a minor girl’s murder. This is his third death penalty.

Special CBI Judge A.K. Singh sent Koli to the gallows for murdering eight-year-old Rachna, daughter of labourer Pappu Lal.

The court had earlier sentenced Koli, an employee of Noida businessman Maninder Singh Pandher, to death in Rimpa Haldar and Arti murder cases.

On Tuesday, Koli was present in the court when the judge delivered the verdict. He appeared calm and his face showed no emotion when the judge announced his decision.

After the proceedings, police took Koli away from the rear gate of the court.

CBI’s Special Public Prosecutor J.P. Sharma said that in the Rachna murder case the court punished Koli for murder, abduction, rape and destruction of evidence.

He was awarded death sentence for murder. Varying jail terms ranging from life imprisonment to seven years were handed down for other offences. Fines ranging from Rs.3,000-1,000 were also slapped on him for different crimes.

The court convicted Koli in the case Sep 27 after a trial spanning over 122 days. A total of 47 prosecution witnesses testified in the case. The driver of Pandher was the sole defence witness, the prosecutor said.

Rachna went out of her house to buy groceries from a local shop but did not come back April 10, 2006. After this, her father lodged a complaint with police. The matter was subsequently transferred to the CBI.

The investigating agency made Koli the sole accused in Rachna’s killing. Pandher was left out of the charge sheet by the CBI.

The death penalty for Koli in Rachna murder case is his third in the serial killings. The court had sentenced him to death in Rimpa Haldar and Arti murder cases earlier.

Pandher was also awarded death sentence in Rimpa Haldar murder case but he was acquitted by the Allahabad High Court.

The death sentence awarded to Koli was maintained by the high court in the Rimpa Haldar and Arti murder cases.

Millions across the country and abroad were horrified when Noida police Dec 29, 2006 began uncovering the remains of children and young women from a drain next to Pandher’s (D-5) bungalow in Noida’s Sector 31. Koli and Pandher were arrested thereafter.

Of the 19 cases of abduction, rape and murder of four women and 15 children, mostly girls, the CBI has filed charge sheets in 16 cases. All the cases are being heard separately.

While Koli has been charged with rape, abduction and murder in all the cases, Pandher is co-accused in six cases.