A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court at Ghaziabad gave death sentence to Surrndra Koli and Moninder Singh Pandher on Monday in connection with one of the 16 cases of rape, murder, abduction and criminal conspiracy in Nithari, Noida.
Pandher and Koli were held guilty of kidnapping, rape and murder in the case, CBI spokesman R K Gaur said.
The court also described the case as “rarest of the rare”.
Special Judge Pawan Kumar Tiwari gave death penalty to the duo in a case relating to the killing of 22-year-old domestic help, Pinky.
According to the CBI chargesheet, Koli had confessed to having lured Pinky, who was returning from work, into the house on October 5, 2006, killed her, dismembered her body, and dumped the body parts in a drain in the rear of the house.
Pandher and Koli were chargesheeted in 16 of the 19 cases, while three were closed for want of evidence. Most of the victims were young girls.
Here’s a complete timeline of the gruesome case:
December 29, 2006
Nithari Killings came to light with the discovery of eight skeletal remains of children from the drain of a house in Nithari, Noida. Two suspects — owner of the house Moninder Singh Pandher and his domestic help Surinder Koli were arrested.
December 30, 2006
More skeletons tumble out of the drainage.
December 31, 2006
Two beat constables suspended as political pressure starts building up.
January 05, 2007
Accused Pandher and Koli taken to Gandhinagar for extensive narco-analysis Test by Uttar Pradesh police.
January 10, 2007
CBI takes over investigations in the case.
January 11, 2007
First CBI team visits Nithari to initiate Probe in the case. Thirty more bones found Near Pandher’s house. Pandher and Koli are quizzed by CBI.
January 13, 2007
Around 30 officers, mainly CBI sleuths and forensic experts, found more human remains from two drains. Over the next few days more skulls were recovered from the drains.
January 20, 2007
UP government files report to NHRC.
January 25, 2007
A group of lawyers and bystanders attacked Pandher and Koli when they were being taken to a court in Ghaziabad, next to Noida.
January 27, 2007
The investigating agencies ruled out the possibility of organ trade as the motive for the killings.
February 8, 2007
Special CBI court sends Pandher and Koli to 14 days of CBI custody.
March 1, 2007
Koli recorded his confessional statement in a Delhi court.
March 22, 2007
The CBI gave a clean chit to Pandher but indicted Koli as a cannibal, charging him with rape of 20-year-old Payal.
CBI joint director Arun Kumar said Koli cooked a breast of the first women he murdered and ate it. He ate the arm of the second women, the liver of his third victim, Kumar said and added that Pandher was not in the house at the time of the killings.
April 10, 2007
The CBI filed second charge sheet in the killing of 20-year-old Pinki Sarkar. Koli charged with abduction, rape and murder. Pandher spared again.
May 11, 2007
A CBI court asks the agency to take a fresh look at Pandher’s role. Till now, the CBI has filed 16 charge sheets and the court has framed charges of rape and murder against Pandher in six cases.
February 13, 2009
Koli was convicted and sentenced to death by a special CBI court for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Rimpa Haldar, one of the several victims of the alleged grisly killings in Nithari in 2007.
September, 2009
Pandher and Koli were sentenced to death by the trial court, the Allahabad High Court in acquitted Pandher of the crime, but confirmed Koli’s death sentence.
January 7, 2010
The Supreme Court stayed the death sentence of Surinder Koli, prime accused in the Nithari serial killings case and domestic help of businessmen Moninder Singh Pandher.
May 4, 2010
Koli found guilty of murder of Arti Prasad, 7, and handed a second death sentence on May 12.
September 28, 2010
Koli handed a third death penalty, this time for murdering eight-year-old Rachna Lal, daughter of labourer Pappu Lal.
December 22, 2010
Koli handed a fourth death sentence.
February 15, 2011
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of Surender Koli.
December 24, 2012
Koli was found guilty of the June 4, 2005 murder of Chhoti Kavita, 5, and given a fifth death sentence.
September 3, 2014
Court issued death warrant against Koli in Nithari case
July 22, 2017
CBI court convicts Mohinder Pandher, Surinder Koli in Pinky case
July 24, 2017
Pandher, Koli sentenced to death for serial rape and murder.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: PTI)