Maha chemist killed for supporting Nupur, seven arrested; Home Ministry orders NIA probe

The Ministry of Home Affairs has handed over the case involving the murder of Amravati chemist Umesh Kolhe to the NIA.

Nagpur: Amid tension over the gruesome killing in Udaipur, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to take over the case involving the murder of a chemist a week ago in Maharashtra.

The MHA on Saturday tweeted noting that the investigation related to the murder of Amravati chemist Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe on June 21 has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). "MHA has handed over the investigation of the case relating to the barbaric killing of Shri Umesh Kolhe in Amravati Maharashtra on 21st June to NIA. The conspiracy behind the killing, involvement of organisations and international linkages would be thoroughly investigated," the tweet read.

Seven persons have been arrested in the case so far. Earlier in the day Vikram Sali, DCP Amravati said that during the investigation, the police found that 54-year-old Umesh Kolhe, a chemist by profession, had posted on social media in support of Nupur Sharma and he was killed because of the post. According to the police, the accused committed the offence since the victim had allegedly shared a post on a social messaging platform in support of Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Mohammad led to nationwide protests and global condemnation.

"Kolhe ran a medical store in Amravati city. He had allegedly shared a post on some WhatsApp groups in support of Nupur Sharma for her comments. He even mistakenly shared the post in a WhatsApp group in which some Muslims were also members, including his customers," an official of the City Kotwali police station said.

After that, Irfan Khan hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Kolhe and roped in five persons for it. He promised to give Rs 10,000 to them and a safe escape in a car, he said. The incident occurred between 10 pm and 10.30 pm on June 21, when Kolhe was going home on a two-wheeler after closing his shop, he said, adding that his son Sanket (27) and wife Vaishnavi were accompanying him in a different vehicle.

"When all of them reached near Mahila College's gate, two motorcycle-borne men came from behind and blocked Kolhe's path. A youth alighted from the motorcycle and stabbed Kolhe on his neck with a sharp weapon and escaped from the spot. Kolhe collapsed on the road in a pool of blood. Sanket rushed him to a hospital, where he died," the official said.

Based on Sanket's complaint, an FIR was registered and five persons, identified as Muddsir Ahmad (22), Shahrukh Pathan (25), Abdul Thoufique (24) Shoaib Khan (22) and Atib Rashid (22), all residents of Amravati and daily wage workers, have been arrested. The police seized the knife used in the crime and obtained the CCTV footage that captured the sequence of events.

Police commissioner Singh said the exact reason behind the murder is being ascertained. The BJP had on June 5 suspended its national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Delhi BJP media head Jindal after their alleged derogatory remarks against the Prophet led to an outrage in India and Gulf countries.