The bench observed: 'The depraved and brutish acts of Koli call for only one sentence and that is death sentence. We agree with the reasoning of the sessions judge awarding death sentence and affirm the same award to Koli.'

According to the prosecution, Koli was suffering from necrophilia and had even eaten body parts of his victims.

The Nithari killings which shocked the country came to light with the discovery of skeletal remains of children from a drain behind Pandher's bungalow in Nithari in late Dec 2006, leading to the arrest of Pandher and his domestic help Koli.

The conviction in the murder of 14-year-old Haldar, who was one of the 19 victims to be sexually exploited and brutally murdered at Pandher's house at Nithari in Noida, was the first one to be pronounced against the duo.

While Koli was found guilty by the court under various sections of Indian Penal Code for murder and rape, Pandher was convicted on the same charges along with Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy).

However, Friday's reprieve to Pandher has provoked another public outcry. According to reports, thousands of people collected outside Pandher's residence and raised anti-court slogans. A large contingent of the Noida police was later deployed to prevent any violence.