Surinder Koli’s post-mortem report is out: Police confirm suicide, rule out murder

DEHRADUN: The post-mortem examination of former Nithari case accused Surender Koli has confirmed “ante-mortem hanging”, indicating that he was alive when he hanged himself, police said on Wednesday, ruling out the possibility that he was killed first and then suspended.A ligature mark was found around Koli’s neck, while doctors also noted saliva dribbling, a fracture of the hyoid bone and petechiae, with bleeding from the nose and mouth consistent with hanging, police said.Investigators reviewing CCTV footage from around the time of his death did not find any suspicious activity.Koli was seen walking outside his tea kiosk at around 8pm in an apparently worried state, after which police are now investigating what may have led to his death.Kotwali Nagar SHO Kundan Singh Rana told TOI, “Surender Koli’s death was a case of suicide. The postmortem report states ‘ante-mortem hanging,’ indicating that he was alive at the time of hanging. However, the reason behind Koli’s suicide is still being investigated. Police are gathering information from people based on the analysis of his Call Detail Records (CDR).”Police are examining Koli’s Call Detail Records as part of the probe and are speaking to people who were in contact with him before his death.Koli, 50, was found dead inside a tea kiosk he had opened in Haridwar around 10 days before his death. Passersby alerted the police after spotting him hanging from a noose.A forensic team examined the spot and collected evidence. No suicide note was found.Koli’s death had initially raised questions after social activist Narayan Singh Rawat claimed he suspected murder.Rawat told TOI that he had helped Koli with Rs 25,000 to set up the tea kiosk and alleged that Koli had complained to him about harassment by a local farmer leader over an alleged outstanding amount of around Rs 5,000.However, Koli’s younger brother Anand had told TOI that he remained in regular contact with him and that Koli had never discussed any issue that was troubling him.Anand said Koli had spoken about starting his own business and had been making plans for his livelihood.Koli, who was arrested in the infamous Nithari killings case, was acquitted in the final case by the Supreme Court last November after spending nearly two decades in jail.He had subsequently moved to Haridwar, where he initially worked as a security guard before starting the tea kiosk.Stay updated with the latest Dehradun news. Download the TOI App.