March 29, 2024 11:35 (IST)
Allahabad HC stays Nithari killer Surinder Koli's execution till Nov 25
Allahabad, Oct 31 (IBNS): Allahabad High Court on Friday stayed the execution of Nithari killer Surinder Koli till Nov 25, during which it sought Centre's reply about the delay in deciding his mercy petition, media reported.
The court was hearing a petition filed by the NGO People's Union for Democratic Rights.
The NGO appealed HC citing Supreme Court’s landmark verdict delivered earlier in the year, where it said that a death sentence can be commuted to life because of a long delay in a decision on a convict's mercy plea.
The top court on Tuesday has rejected Surinder Koli's review plea seeking recall of the judgment upholding his death sentence in the Rimpa Haldar murder case, media reported.
In the first open court hearing of a review petition in a death sentence case, a bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu has said, "We are fully satisfied that this court has not committed any error that may persuade us to review the order."
The verdict had cleared the way for Koli’s execution.
But Koli on Friday got a fresh lease of life with the Allahabad HC staying his execution.
Koli was to be hanged last month in Meerut in Uttar Pradesh but his execution was suspended twice last month by the Supreme Court, which said in a landmark ruling recently that every death row convict has the "fundamental right" to be heard in an open court.
Koli is presently lodged in a high-security barrack in the Meerut jail.
Koli has been found guilty of murdering young women and children at a bungalow in the area of Nithari in Noida on the outskirts of Delhi.
The bungalow belonged to Moninder Singh Pandher, where Koli worked as a domestic help. Pandher was also made co-accused, but later acquitted by court in 2009.
As many as 19 girls were feared to have been raped and killed.
Koli was sentenced to death for murdering 14-year-old Rimpa Halder in 2005.
He has already been convicted of five cases of murder, rape and cannibalism while 14 more cases are still pending.
42-year-old Koli has reportedly confessed to having sex with his dead victims and also eating some of their body parts.
Pandher was released from jail a month ago.
The gruesome case came to light in December 2006 when a girl who was found missing was found murdered later by Koli.
During investigations, Police recovered the skeletal remains of children from a drain adjacent to the house.
Koli was awarded death sentence by a lower court which was upheld by the Allahabad high court and confirmed by the Supreme Court on February 15, 2011 for the murder of Rimpa Halder in 2005.
Last month, a Ghaziabad sessions court had issued death warrant against Surinder Koli in connection with the brutal killing of 14-year-old Rimpa Halder.
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