Nithari killings: From recovery of bones to death sentence to Pandher and Koli; a chronology of events

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Ghaziabad on Monday awarded death sentence to Moninder Singh Pandher and Surinder Koli in the murder and attempted rape of 20-year-old Pinki Sarkar — one of the 16 murder cases in the sensational Nithari killings. The CBI special judge Pawan Kumar reportedly termed the case as ‘rarest of rare’.

With Monday's verdict, Pandher and Koli have been sentenced to be hanged till death in seven cases, all connected to Nithari case.

Nithari case timeline - Recovery of bones to death sentence

Dec 29, 2006 - Villagers started a manhunt after a girl of Nithari in Uttar Pradesh’s Noida went missing.

Dec 29, 2006 - Villagers with help of the local police launch manhunt. Eight skeletal remains from a drain of the house owned by Moninder Singh Pandher. Most of the skeletons were of minors or girls in early twenties.

Dec 30, 2006 - Police launched massive search operation in and around Pandher’s residence as 54 missing cases were reported.

Jan 05, 2007 - The accused were taken to Gandhinagar for extensive narco-analysis test by Uttar Pradesh police.

Also Read: 2006 Nithari case: Special CBI court pronounces capital punishment for Surendra Koli

Jan 10, 2007 -  CBI takes over investigations in the case.

Jan 11, 2007 -  CBI team recovered 30 more bones near Pandher`s house.

Mar 22, 2007 - CBI files first chargesheet in the case in the Ghaziabad court. Koli was charged of committing all the murders, kidnap and rape. Lesser charges were slapped on Pandher.

May 1, 2007 -  Parents of victims of move to court against the CBI for letting off main accused Pandher in connection with kidnapping and murder.

Dec 13, 2007 -  Special CBI Court in Ghaziabad frames charges against Pandher for the rape and murder of two teenagers.

Feb 12, 2009 -  Special Judge of CBI pronounces Pandher and Koli guilty of rape and murder.

Also Read: Nithari killings: CBI court convicts Pandher, Koli in Pinki Sarkar murder case

Feb 13, 2009 - Pandher and Koli sentenced to death by a special court for rape and murder of 14-year-old Rimpa Halder.

Sept 11, 2009 - Allahabad HC acquitted Pandher in Rimpa Haldhar murder case. Koli`s death sentence upheld.

Feb 2011 - Supreme Court of India uphold their death sentence.

July 2014 - President of India rejected the mercy petitions of  Pandher and Koli.

4 Sept, 2014 - Koli was transferred to Meerut Jail because of the absence of hanging facilities at Dasna Jail, Ghaziabad.

​July 24, 2017 - Pandher and Koli sentenced to death for serial rape by CBI court in Pinki Sarkar case.