Surendra Koli was cremated in Haridwar on Saturday, days after police found his body at his tea shop in the Bhupatwala area. Only 6 relatives attended the last rites, including his 20-year-old son and 3 brothers.

Koli’s family rejected the possibility of suicide and raised questions about his unexpected death. Relatives alleged that he knew several secrets connected with the Nithari case and claimed that he was murdered to prevent those details from becoming public.

Police have said Koli may have died by suicide. His body was discovered on Friday in what officers described as suspicious circumstances. The account remains an allegation under investigation, while the family has advanced a contrasting claim.

Cremation follows mortem

Former district panchayat member Narayan Singh Rawat, who reached Haridwar after learning about the death, said the cremation took place after mortem. The final rites were held in Haridwar on Saturday.

Koli had spent 20 years in prison in connection with the widely known Nithari case. He was a resident of Mangrukhाल in Almora district and had been acquitted of all charges in the case, according to the report.

His death has revived attention around the circumstances surrounding his return to Haridwar and the claims made by his relatives. No conclusion about the cause of death has been established in the available information.

Son met him after release

Koli’s only son, who is 20 years old, attended the cremation. The 2 reportedly met for the first time in June after Koli’s release, beginning a renewed relationship after years apart.

That meeting became the first and last time father and son met, according to the account. Koli’s 3 brothers also travelled for the cremation. Anand Ram came from Masi in Almora, while Chandan Ram and Harish Koli arrived from Delhi.

Koli’s wife and daughter did not attend the final rites. The report said he had hoped to meet them during his lifetime, including after his release, but that meeting did not take place before his death.

Hearing on D-5 bungalow poned

A separate legal development linked to the Nithari case also took place on Saturday. The Special CBI Court did not hear an application seeking the release of the D-5 bungalow in Sector 31, Noida, because lawyers were on strike.

Special Judge Avnish Kumar Pandey fixed 26 September for the next hearing. The property has remained sealed for about 2 decades after the Nithari case.

Moninder Singh Pandher and his wife, Devendra Kaur, jointly filed the application seeking release of the bungalow. The available information does not state that the court reached a decision on the request during poned hearing.

Conclusion

Koli’s cremation has been completed, but the available account leaves the cause of his death disputed between the police’s suspected-suicide theory and his family’s murder allegation. The next reported development includes the 26 September hearing on the D-5 bungalow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Where was Surendra Koli cremated?

Koli was cremated in Haridwar after his mortem.

Q. Where was his body found?

Police found his body at his tea shop in the Bhupatwala area of Haridwar.

Q. What has Koli’s family alleged?

His relatives alleged that he was murdered because he knew several details about the Nithari case.

Q. What is the police’s reported suspicion?

Police have suspected that Koli died by suicide, possibly by hanging. The available information does not establish the final cause of death.

Q. Who attended the cremation?

His 20-year-old son and 3 brothers attended, along with other relatives. A total of 6 people were reported to have been present.

Q. Why was the D-5 bungalow hearing poned?

The Special CBI Court deferred the hearing because lawyers were on strike.

Q. When is the next hearing on the bungalow?

Special Judge Avnish Kumar Pandey fixed the next hearing for 26 September.

Q. Who sought the release of the D-5 bungalow?

Moninder Singh Pandher and his wife, Devendra Kaur, jointly filed the application.