Nithari killings: Koli gets fourth death sentence

GHAZIABAD - Surinder Koli, a convict in the 2006 Nithari serial killings, was Wednesday sentenced to death by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here for a 12-year-old girl’s murder. This is his fourth death sentence in the killings.

Koli, who was present in the court when special CBI judge A.K. Singh pronounced the judgment, appeared calm. Asked for his reaction, Koli did not say anything and the policemen led him away through the rear gate of the court.

CBI special public prosecutor J.P. Sharma said the court had found Koli guilty under sections 302, 364, 376 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code.

He was awarded the death sentence for murdering Deepali, the public prosecutor said.

The court also sentenced him to life imprisonment and fined him Rs.6,000 for the victim’s abduction. It also awarded him seven-year imprisonment and fined him Rs.1,000 for raping the girl.

Koli was also sentenced to seven year’s imprisonment and fined Rs.1,000 for destruction of evidence, Sharma added. The sentences will run concurrently.

Of the 19 cases of abduction, rape and murder of four women and 15 children, mostly girls, the CBI has filed chargesheets in 16 cases.

All the cases are being heard separately. While Koli has been charged with rape, abduction and murder in all the cases, Maninder Singh Pandher, whose house the crimes are allged to have been committed, is a co-accused in only six cases.

Koli was the sole accused in the Deepali case, Sharma said.

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.