Nithari case: gallows for Pandher, Koli

Special CBI judge held the sensational killings and rape to be the 'rarest of rare' that deserved capital punishment

Nithari case: gallows for Pandher, Koli

Special CBI judge held the sensational killings and rape to be the 'rarest of rare' that deserved capital punishment

Convicted: Murder and rape convict Moninder Singh Pandher steps out of a police van outside the CBI court in Ghaziabad yesterday. Pic/AP

The duo was awarded gallows on charges of rape and murder of Rimpa Halder, a 14-year-old girl, who was one of 19 victims in the Nithari serial killings.

Pronouncing the sentence in a packed court room, Special CBI judge Rama Jain held the crimes committed by Pandher and his servent to be 'rarest of rare' deserving capital punishment.
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Jain said, "No more penalty could be awarded to the accused persons otherwise they deserve more punishment as their act of murder and rape in this particular case was beyond all the canons of humanity."

After the verdict, Pandher broke into tears while Koli remained unmoved. Earlier during final arguments, the CBI counsel had argued that Koli has no right to live in society, as even today he has no remorse of his deeds. "He continues to be a threat to the society," said, CBI's counsel S P Ahluwalia.
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The counsel submitted that Koli is a rare combination of a person indulging in pedophilia (having sex with children) and necrophilia (having sex with corpse) and there are no chances of his becoming reformed and rehabilitated.

Ahluwalia said Koli used to lure innocent women and children to the house of his employer Pandher before killing them and later having sex with their bodies. In some cases, he used to cook and eat their flesh, the counsel said.

However, in the case of Pandher, CBI said, "Whatever the court deems fit, we will accept that." To this Khalid Khan, lawyer representing the victim's family, objected and demanded gallows for Pandher as well.

Pandher was found guilty under IPC sections 302, 376, 201 (destroying the evidence and giving false information) and 120B (hatching criminal conspiracy), whereas Koli was convicted under sections 302, 376, 364 and 511.

'Don't worry, Papa, I'll appeal'

That's what the weeping son of Pandher told him after he was sentenced to death in the Nithari serial killings case. The family said that they'd appeal against the special court's verdict in the Allahabad High Court.

"Papa, I will appeal in a higher court, you need not worry," said the 25-year-old Karandeep while the police escorted Pandher out of the courtroom after the pronouncement of the sentence.

Karandeep, who has been managing Pandher's business, was in tears and was seen consoling his father.

Son cries injustice, accuses media

Upset over the death penalty awarded to Pandher, his family termed the decision as 'unjust' and influenced by media. "It's injustice to my father," said 25-year-old Karandeep Singh, Pandher's son.
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He even sarcastically thanked media for influencing the judgment. "Thanks to media. They (media) have thrown him to the dogs. From day one my father was accused (by media) of killing children. The media has ruined our lives," he said.

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