Surendra Koli, who was acquitted last year in the notorious 2006 Nithari mass killings case after nearly two decades in prison, has been found dead in Haridwar. Police reported his death at a tea shop in the city, where he had been working since his release.

Koli had walked out of Greater Noida's Luksar jail in November last year, following his acquittal by the Supreme Court in the last remaining case linked to the Nithari killings. This judicial decision concluded an extensive incarceration period for Koli, spanning close to 19 years. His release marked a significant turn in a legal saga that had captivated national attention for years, bringing an end to a prolonged legal battle that saw him on death row for a considerable period.

Following his freedom, Koli had relocated to Haridwar, a prominent pilgrimage city in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, where he began working as a tea vendor. Reports from multiple sources indicate that he was discovered deceased under suspicious circumstances at his tea stall. While some news outlets have reported his death as a suicide, official police statements detailing the specific cause were not extensively covered in the available information. The exact circumstances leading to his death remain a subject of investigation.

His time in judicial custody amounted to a total of 18 years, four months, and 27 days, according to his jail records, across two recorded periods. This extensive period of detention concluded with the Supreme Court's decision to overturn his conviction in the Nithari cases. The Supreme Court's verdict, delivered "last year" as per sources, effectively cleared him of all charges in the high-profile case, granting him freedom after nearly 6,935 days in confinement. His life outside prison, however, reportedly lasted less than 310 days.

The Nithari killings case, which first came to light in December 2006, involved the discovery of human remains, primarily of children and young women, near a house in Nithari village, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. Koli, who worked as a domestic help at the residence where the remains were found, was a central figure in the investigations. The horrific nature of the discoveries shocked the nation and led to widespread public outcry and intense media scrutiny.

Over the years, Koli faced multiple charges, convictions, and subsequent appeals in connection with the killings. He had been sentenced to death in several of these cases by lower courts, with some convictions upheld by higher courts before ultimately being overturned by the Supreme Court's final judgment. This complex legal journey saw him navigate various levels of the Indian judiciary, culminating in his acquittal.

Authorities in Haridwar are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding Koli's death, with the local police confirming his passing at the tea shop. Further details are expected as the inquiry proceeds.