The Supreme Court has stayed the death sentence of Surinder Koli, the prime accused in the Nithari serial killings case. A Bench of the apex court while staying the death sentence, sought response from the CBI and the Uttar Pradesh government on Koli's petition challenging his conviction. <br/> <br/>Koli was convicted and sentenced to death by a special CBI court in February 2009 for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Rimpa Haldar, one of the several alleged victims of the alleged grisly killings in Nithari in 2007.<br/> <br/>Along with Koli, the sessions court also sentenced to death his employer Moninder singh Pandher. <br/> <br/>The Allahabad High Court, however, while acquitting Pandher of the charges, confirmed the death sentence of Koli in September 2009. <br/> <br/>Aggrieved by the High Court's judgement, Koli chose to file the appeal against the death sentence.<br/>