Serial killer Surendra Koli found dead in Haridwar, year after release

Surendra Koli, a serial killer who evaded the gallows in a dramatic last-minute Supreme Court intervention, was discovered dead at his tea shop in Haridwar in what appears to be a case of suicide. Koli had been just hours away from execution in 2014 when the nation's highest court issued a midnight order halting his death sentence, stunning legal observers and the public alike.

After spending approximately 19 years in detention, Koli was acquitted of all charges against him in a subsequent legal development. He was subsequently released from custody and attempted to rebuild his life in Haridwar, where he operated a small tea stall to earn his livelihood.

Less than a year after gaining his freedom, Koli was found hanging at his establishment. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by local authorities. His case had generated significant controversy, with many questioning the legal proceedings that ultimately led to his acquittal despite his conviction in earlier proceedings.

Koli's death marks a conclusion to one of India's more contentious criminal cases, which had gripped public attention for its dramatic courtroom reversals and the broader questions it raised about India's justice system.