Overview
- A bench of Chief Justice B. R. Gavai and Justices Surya Kant and Vikram Nath allowed Koli’s curative petition, with Justice Vikram Nath pronouncing the order in open court.
- The Supreme Court set aside its own 2011 judgment upholding Koli’s conviction and recalled the 2014 review rejection, directing his release if he is not wanted in any other case.
- Judges noted the case hinged on a purported confession and a kitchen knife recovery, mirroring evidence previously found unreliable, including recoveries unsupported by a valid Section 27 disclosure.
- The ruling follows the top court’s July dismissal of appeals by the CBI and victims’ families, which left Koli acquitted in 12 other linked cases and upheld Moninder Singh Pandher’s acquittals.
- The decision closes nearly two decades of litigation and echoes earlier criticism of investigative lapses recorded by the Allahabad High Court in 2023.