Amravati (Maharashtra): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over custody of all the seven accused in the murder of Amravati-based chemist Umesh Kolhe, a police official said on Tuesday. The accused will be produced before the NIA's Mumbai court on July 8.
Amravati police found links between social media posts supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Umesh's murder during the investigation and didn't suppress the case as was alleged, police commissioner Aarti Singh said on Monday.
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Police did not disclose the information earlier given the "very sensitive" nature of the murder case and to avoid any untoward incident, she said. The conspiracy to murder Umesh Kolhe was hatched by Shaikh Irfan Rahim Shaikh, who is one of the accused in the case and will be presented before the NIA court on 8 July. Amravati Police had arrested Muddasar Ahmad (22), Shahrukh Pathan (25), Abdul Taufiq (24) Shoaib Khan (22), Atib Rashid (22) and Yusuf Khan (32) and the alleged mastermind Shaikh Irfan Shaikh Rahim as the prime suspects behind Umesh Kolhe's murder.
The accused will remain in the custody of the NIA till July 8, after which they will be presented before NIA's Mumbai court. According to reports, both the NIA and the police have been making preparations to transfer the accused to Mumbai today. Police have been deployed in the vicinity of the Kotwali police station to prevent any untoward incident.
Police are on the lookout for one more suspect Shamim Ahmed in connection with the case. Umesh was allegedly attacked with a knife by a group of three men between 10 pm and 10:30 pm on June 21. He died during treatment at a hospital. He had supported a post on social media in support of Nupur Sharma, who made a comment on Prophet Muhammad in a TV debate. (Agency Inputs)
