Cold cases and forensics
The news item of November 12th 2025, to the effect that Surendar Koli has been acquitted in the last pending case against him relating to the 2005 Nithari killings, which shook the nation, does not come as a surprise. The Court has observed that the offenses were heinous, but the identity of the actual perpetrator has not been established in a manner that meets legal standards. It is an established principle that no innocent person should suffer, if the alleged offense is not proved beyond doubt. In view of the principle that there cannot be "double jeopardy " no acquitted person can be investigated again for the same offence, which is in accordance with the norms in most countries around the world. According to NCRB data, between 2016 and 2020 around 7 lakh cases a year were closed as 'untraced' or for 'insufficient evidence. These figures seem to cover all kinds of cases, with murder and culpable homicide perhaps being a small fract...