Supreme Court Upholds Acquittal in Nithari Case: Justice Re-examined

The Supreme Court has rejected 14 appeals challenging the acquittal of Surendra Koli in the infamous 2006 Nithari serial killings case. Delivering the verdict, the bench led by Chief Justice B R Gavai cited no 'perversity' in the findings of the Allahabad High Court, which had earlier acquitted Koli.

The judgment underscored significant lapses in the investigation, particularly highlighting indiscretions in how evidence was handled. According to the ruling, skulls and other items recovered weren't admissible since they did not stem from a proper statement by Koli recorded by the police, as insisted upon by Section 27 of the Evidence Act.

The acquittal had been controversially challenged by separate pleas, including those from the CBI and the Uttar Pradesh government. The High Court had asserted that the prosecution failed to establish guilt 'beyond reasonable doubt,' branding the investigation as 'botched up' and a 'betrayal of public trust.'

(With inputs from agencies.)