The Allahabad High Court on October 16 acquitted businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, 65, and his domestic help Koli in the case.

Nithari Killings: A week after the 2006 Nithari serial killings accused Moninder Singh Pandher and his employee Surendra Koli were acquitted by the Allahabad High Court for lack of evidence, the District Development Residents Welfare Association (DDRWA), a residents’ body in Noida on Monday said it will move the Supreme Court challenging the acquittal and it is consulting legal experts and has met the families of the victims to take the case further. “We first thought of extending financial assistance to the victim families but after discussions, it was decided that we will take up the case and bear the legal expenses of the case in the Supreme Court,” DDRWA president NP Singh told PTI.

“We have taken the consent of the victim families, and are consulting lawyers who are studying the high court’s order. They will guide us on the way ahead in this case. We are hoping to move the Supreme Court within a week,” Singh added.

Ashok, who had lost his five-year-old son in the Nithari serial killings, said he has spoken to the residents’ body about the case. “I have given them my go ahead for taking up this case in the apex court. Let’s see what happens next,” Ashok, who runs a footwear shop, told PTI.

The Allahabad High Court on October 16 acquitted businessman Moninder Singh Pandher, 65, and his domestic help Koli in the case after noting that the prosecution had failed to prove guilt “beyond reasonable doubt” and that the investigation was botched up.

Pandher and Koli were charged with rape and murder and sentenced to death by a lower court in the killings that took place in Sector-31, Noida near Nithari Village, Uttar Pradesh between 2005 and 2006.

The case had horrified the nation with the details of sexual assault, brutal murders, and hints of possible cannibalism.

The case, also known as the 2006 Noida serial murders, also Nithari serial murders, or Nithari case, occurred in the house of Moninder Singh Pandher. Pandher was convicted in two out of the five cases against him and his servant Surinder Koli who allegedly aided him was convicted in 10 out of the 16 cases against him. Both were sentenced to death, however, on 16 October 2023, the Allahabad High Court acquitted them citing lack of evidence.

The Allahabad High Court raised serious questions regarding how the investigation in the case was conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and pulled up the central agency for “completely overlooking” the strong possibility of organ trade being an actual reason behind murders.

(With PTI inputs)