Nithari accused remanded in 14-day CBI custody

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, Feb 8 (UNI) Amidst unprecedented security, the two accused in the Nithari serial killings were today sent in 14-day CBI remand after the central agency sought their custodial extention for further interrogation.

Moninder Singh Pandher, along with Surinder Koli, was remanded in CBI custody for the murder of his maid servant Nanda till February 22 by Special Magistrate (CBI) Sapna Mishra after agency sleuths presented the duo before the Ghaziabad court this morning at 1015 hrs.

The hearing lasted about five minutes before the two were brought through the court's backdoor amidst tight security bandobust, where even the media was banned.

Earlier, the police had cordoned off the court area long before Moninder and Surinder arrived, in wake of the violent attack by lawyers and others on them the last time they were brought to court on January 25.

Two companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary, eight Dy SPs, 20 Sub-Inspectors and constables from nine police stations were deployed in and around the court premises, according to a senior police official.

The two accused were remanded to CBI custody for the third time ever since the serial killings case came to light last year.

CBI took over the case from Uttar Pradesh Police on January 11 and has registered 19 cases against the two accused so far.

Skeletal remains and skulls of 19 children and women were 'dug out' from the backyard and the drain close to Pandher's D-5 residence in Noida's Sector 31 Nithari village last year following the unearthing of the case.

UNI