Surinder Koli, 50, was found hanged inside a tea stall he ran in Haridwar in the northern state of Uttarakhand, on Friday, 18th September.Incidentally, just prior to this suspected suicide, on 17th September, TVSK Kanak Raju, the Visakhapatnam based famous lawyer of Supreme court discussed the original case in details in a national level talk. It was titled ‘Role of ethical journalism in strengthening democracy’. This journalist covered that high level talk.Surinder Koli was released in 2025 after India’s top court acquitted him in the final case against him linked to the 2006 killings of women and children in Nithari, a village on the outskirts of Delhi. His body has been recovered and an investigation launched, according to reports. The BBC has contacted police for comment.
Kanak Raju recalled the 20 year old sensational series of murder case and told, the 2006 case shocked India after the remains of 19 women and children were found near a bungalow. After the incidents the media was flooded with that news and speculations. But on November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court of India acquitted prime accused Surendra Koli in the final remaining case linked to the 2006 Nithari serial murders, setting aside his previous conviction and death sentence.A bench comprising the then Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, and Justice Vikram Nath heard the matter in an open court. Curative Petition: The apex court allowed Koli’s curative petition challenging his 2011 conviction and death sentence regarding the rape and murder of a 15-year-old girl (the Rimpa Haldar case), which the top court had previously upheld. Reasoning: The Court held that the earlier conviction could not be sustained when foundational evidence and confessions had major legal flaws, and when Koli had already been acquitted in the other connected Nithari cases due to serious investigative lapses and lack of credible, admissible evidence by the CBI.
Kanak Raju questioned in the seminar, after the acquittal of the prime accused, no media took the charge to ask the police or the related authorities whether they did their necessary duty performed properly. Whether the collection of evidence was fullproof, or whether framing the chargesheets was righ? If yes, why the Supreme court delivered such order? If no, why the investigators of Nithari murder case didn’t, who is responsible for that? Why the helpless parents of the slain innocents had to run from pillar to post to get the answers of of the reason for their children’s death.At Maddilapalem, the discussion was presided by GVL Narasimha Rao, former member of Rajya Sabha. To some extent, he supported Advocate Kanak Raju’s view and opined, as a whole journalists are partially free to write or analyse any incident, but they must keep in mind about their responsibility to their profession and to the society.Dr.YVS Murthy (21.8.1927 -30.3.2010) was the alumnus of the Andhra Pradesh University and founder Alkali Metalsmilted Philanthropist. After his name there is an auditoriam, in the University Engineering College. There, in that discussion Kanak Raju questioned the role of journalists.
Among other speakers in the discussion, there were famous orators and analysts from different walks of life like 1) M. Sri Bharath, MP, Visakhapatnam, 2) Shahnawaj Hasan, the eminent journalist and the founder Secretary of ‘Bharti Shramajeevi Patrakar Samity’ (BSPS), 3) Cheruvu Rama Kotyayya, Trustee, Builders Association of India, 4) Prof. GSN Raju, Chancellor, Centurion University, 5) Rtn Ch Kishore Kumar, President, FAPCCI, 6) G. Sambasivarao, Chief Reporter, Times of India, 7) G Rama Murthy, external Auditor, Bureau of Indian Standard, 8) I.V. Kashyap, Advocate, Supreme court, 9) L.K.Jain, Vice Chairman, RMB. The speakers suggested the journalists to keep in mind their own conscience and stressed the necessity of their credibility and truthfulness. The discussion held in collaboration with Navyandhra Journalist Welfare Association, Visakhapatnam.Incidentally, on last 19th, police said Koli was found hanged inside a tea stall on Friday (18th September) morning, with no suicide note found at the scene.