Koli alleges murder threat by Pandher

GHAZIABAD: In a dramatic development in the Nithari murders case, prime accused Surendra Koli, on Wednesday, told the designated CBI court that Moninder Singh Pandher and his son, Karan, have been threatening to have him murdered if he deposed against Pandher.
Koli wept bitterly in the court as he asked for protection from Pandher. This was revealed in a hurriedly written complaint in additional district judge, Rama Jain's, court.
Koli was in court to be cross examined by the defence, in connection with the murder of Payal (26), daughter of Nand Lal, in May last year.Pandher was specifically accused in the case, in a report filed by Nand Lal, on October 27, 2006. The case was registered only after orders from a Noida court to Noida's Sector 20 police.
Koli also told the court that another Ravindra Pradhan, the principal accused in the high profile Kavita murder case of Meerut, had threatened to murder him in jail if he said anything in court against Pandher.
Pradhan is currently lodged in the Ghaziabad jail, where Pandher and Koli are also imprisoned, albeit in separate cells. There are reports that of late, Pandher has been playing badminton with Pradhan.
In his petition, Koli wrote that ‘‘Pandher used to enjoy with his friends at his Nithari home, and whatever has happened has been done by Pandher himself. My family and I face danger from Pandher, and we require security against him.''
The next hearing in the case is on October 29. With the CBI already accused of protecting Pandher, Koli's petition could have important consequences. Jail superintendent, V K Singh, could not be contacted for comment. A jail official, however, revealed that Koli and Pandher are ‘‘confined in cells about 7 feet by 5 feet, with a water unit built inside this space. They are allowed to be out of the cells for two hours in the mornings and two in the evenings. Koli has been reading the Ramayana a lot in his cell.''
lalit.kumar@timesgroup.com