Will Approach Supreme Court Over Nithari Case If Needed, Says UP Minister

The Uttar Pradesh government will review the Allahabad High Court's order in the Nithari serial killings case and approach the Supreme Court if required, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said on Thursday.

The high court on Monday acquitted domestic help Surendra Koli and his employer Moninder Singh Pandher in the sensational 2005-06 case in which they were facing death sentence, holding that the prosecution failed to prove the guilt "beyond reasonable doubt" and that the investigation was botched up.

The judgment in the case brought back memories of the chilling crime targeting young children that came to light with skeletal remains being found behind a Noida bungalow, near Delhi, with the families of the victims claiming injustice.

"Certainly, the type of crimes that were registered in this case and the type of advocacy that should have been done by the government were done," Mr Maurya told reporters during an official visit to Gautam Buddh Nagar.

"Certainly it (the Allahabad HC's order) will be reviewed at the government level and if necessary, the government will approach the Supreme Court," the deputy chief minister added.

Reversing the death sentence given to Koli in 12 cases and Pandher in two cases, the Allahabad High Court noted that the prosecution has failed to prove the guilt of both the accused "beyond reasonable doubt, on the settled parameters of a case based on circumstantial evidence and the probe was nothing short of a betrayal of public trust by responsible agencies." The two were charged with rape and murder and sentenced to death in the killings that horrified the nation with the details of sexual assault, brutal murder and hints of possible cannibalism.

While Koli is in a Ghaziabad prison and faces multiple cases, Pandher is lodged in a Noida jail and may walk out soon after the High Court order.

In Noida, family members of the victims expressed disappointment over the verdict and appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to hang the killers.

"We are not satisfied with the judgment. This is not right. If someone killing several children gets acquitted, what punishment will those who kill one or two people get," said Jhabbu Lal, 63, and Sunita Devi, 60, who lost their daughter.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)