Both Pandher and Koli now free, life moves on in the Sector 31 village where children disappeared—glass façades rise and land now costs crores per plot.
While acquitting Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in two, Allahabad HC had in 2023 repeatedly noted that investigating agencies failed to probe the organ trade angle in the case.
One affirms guilt, the other embraces grave doubt. Together, they form a striking chronicle of judicial reasoning shaped by different philosophies of criminal justice.
Koli’s counsel said this is the second instance in Indian judicial history where the Supreme Court has acquitted a death row convict after the dismissal of a review petition.
Bench questioned prolonged police custody, delay in recording statement of Nithari accused in front of magistrate, said it could've been done to ensure he 'could recite taught confession'.
The Nithari killings came to light in December 2006, when children were reported missing in the area and skeletons were later found in a drain near a house abutting the village.
SC in 2011 upheld death sentence handed to Surinder Koli by trial court in case of rape-murder of 14-yr-old girl. Koli's lawyer says will challenge death penalty in SC.
In tactical terms, the shirtless protest was worse than a self-goal. Suddenly, the fiascos of the AI Summit were forgotten, and the Youth Congress’s disruption became the issue.
IAF is fine with accepting the aircraft with 'must-haves', even if some other steps remain pending, which may take at least another year, it is learnt.
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