Nithari case: Rape, murder charges framed against Pandher

GHAZIABAD: A special court on Wednesday framed charges of murder and rape against Moninder Singh Pandher, in whose home in Nithari at least 19 women and children were brutally murdered.

The court of Special CBI Judge Rama Jain here framed the charges in connection with the murder of 22-year-old Payal, one of the victims of the serial killings allegedly committed by Pandher's servant Surender Koli.

All the chargesheets filed so far by the CBI, which is investigating the serial killings in Nithari, had not leveled charges of murder against Pandher.

Payal's father Nand Lal filed an application under section 216 of CrPC in Judge Jain's court for imposing murder and rape charges against Pandher, Nand Lal's advocate Khalid Khan said.

The judge allowed the application today and framed charges of murder and rape against Pandher. These charges will be in addition to the other charges framed against him by CBI.

Khan said Pandher would now be prosecuted by the court under all these charges. "Some evidence surfaced against Pandher to frame charges of rape and murder. We filed an application in court," he said.

"After arguments, the court was fully satisfied and reached the conclusion that additional charges under sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC should be framed against Pandher."

Pandher and Koli are currently being held in the Dasana district jail here.