Nithari case victim's father questions if Surendra Koli was murdered or committed suicide
The father of a victim from the notorious 2006 Nithari serial killings case has raised serious questions regarding the sudden death of Surendra Koli. Following reports that Koli allegedly died by suicide in Haridwar, the grieving parent expressed deep skepticism about the circumstances of the incident.
Speaking to news agency ANI on Friday, the father questioned whether the man was actually killed rather than taking his own life. He expressed disbelief that a person who had recently been released from prison would choose to end his life so abruptly.
Doubts over the circumstances of Koli's death
"Did he really commit suicide, or was he killed? Someone had him killed," the victim's father stated while questioning the motive behind such an act. He argued that Koli had significant reasons to live following his release from jail, specifically citing his responsibilities toward his family.
According to the father, Koli had the opportunity to lead a quiet and stable life alongside his children and his elderly mother. He questioned what could have possibly driven Koli to such an extreme decision, suggesting that the man had no immediate worries that would necessitate suicide.
- He could have earned a living to support his family.
- He could have worked at a simple tea stall to provide for his children.
- He had a mother and children who depended on him.
Memories of the confrontation and confession
Recalling the time he interacted with Koli regarding the death of his daughter, the father described a heavy confrontation. He had directly questioned the accused about the methods used to lure his child into a trap.
When the father pressed him for answers, Koli reportedly offered a confession of sorts. "I asked him, 'How did you lure my daughter? What did you do to her?' He replied, 'Please forgive me; she came by mistake; it happened by mistake,'" the father recounted.
He further detailed the predatory tactics Koli allegedly used to target different age groups. The father explained that Koli would use toys or flowers to attract children, noting that regardless of a family's wealth, children are naturally drawn to such items. For adults, Koli reportedly used the pretext of offering work and money to trap men and women.
Police investigation into the Haridwar incident
Surendra Koli, who had been acquitted by the Supreme Court in 2025 in connection with the Nithari killings, was reported to have died in the Bhupatwala area of Haridwar. Police officials stated on Friday that the death appears to be a suicide, though an investigation is ongoing.
Haridwar City CO Shishupal Singh Negi informed the media that police were alerted to a person allegedly dying by suicide in the Sapt Rishi area. The identity of the deceased was confirmed after an Aadhaar card found at the scene was checked, which matched Koli's name and address.
"At first sight, it appears to be a case of suicide," Negi told ANI, adding that the deceased had been running a tea stall in the Bhupatwala area under the jurisdiction of the Haridwar City Kotwali for several days. An FSL team has visited the site for a preliminary examination.
Following the initial inspection, a medical panel will conduct the necessary inquest and post-mortem proceedings. The police have taken the body into custody and are continuing their investigation into how the death occurred. The Nithari case originally gained national attention in 2006 when skeletal remains were discovered in a drain behind the residence of businessman Moninder Singh Pandher in Noida.