Surendra Koli autopsy held back as doctors probe blood around nose, mouth

DEHRADUN: Haridwar police were still awaiting Surendra Koli’s post-mortem report on Monday, three days after he was found dead inside his newly opened tea stall, as a two-doctor panel had yet to determine what caused blood around his nose and mouth.Koli’s family cited the blood marks to allege foul play and sought a high-level probe, while police maintained that initial findings pointed to suicide but said they would wait for the autopsy and forensic evidence before reaching a conclusion.The doctors conducted the post-mortem for around three hours on Saturday under videography but held back the report pending a clearer medical opinion.“The post-mortem was completed, but doctors have not yet concluded what caused the bleeding from his nose and mouth. His family has cited the same blood marks while alleging murder,” a police officer privy to the investigation told TOI.Koli’s younger brother Anand had told TOIon Saturday, “We saw blood under his nose and mouth, which adds to our suspicion.”His elder brother Chandan, who saw the body before the post-mortem and later attended the last rites in Haridwar, submitted a complaint at Saptarishi police outpost seeking a detailed probe.Family members also pointed to bloodstains around the face while questioning the initial suicide theory.Police, however, said they had so far found no evidence establishing homicide.SI Khemendra Gangwar, who is probing the death, told TOI, “initial findings point towards suicide, but we are waiting for the post-mortem report to establish the exact cause of death. Doctors are taking time before finalising it, and we expect the report in the next couple of days.”Investigators were also examining CCTV footage from the Saptarishi-Bhupatwala area to reconstruct Koli’s movements before his death.Police found no suicide note at the stall, though they recovered a diary containing what appeared to be daily expenses and work-related entries.Koli had started selling tea and biscuits from the rented stall only a few days before his death and had also been living there.After walking out of jail in Nov 2025 following his acquittal in the last of 13 Nithari cases, he had spent several months in Haridwar, taking up security and labour work before trying to start the tea business.Stay updated with the latest Dehradun news. Download the TOI App.