NIA Files Chargesheet Against 11 Accused In Murder Of Amravati-based Pharmacist Umesh Kolhe Who Shared Social Media Posts Supporting Nupur Sharma

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday filed a charge-sheet against 11 persons in the murder case of Amravati-based pharmacist Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe who had shared social media posts expressing solidarity with former BJP leader Nupur Sharma.

Kolhe, a 54-year-old chemist, was killed in Maharashtra’s Amravati district on June 21, after he shared a post in social messaging platform in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma

According to the charge-sheet, the accused had formed a terrorist gang to take revenge on Kolhe after he shared a WhatsApp post in support of Sharma's controversial remarks about Prophet Mohammad.

The charge-sheet was filed before a special NIA court

The court allowed the probe agency's plea to continue investigation against two absconding accused.

Those named in the charge-sheet were Mudassir Ahmed, Shahrukh Kha, Abdul Shaikh, Mohammad Shoeb, Atib Rashid, Yusuf Khan, Irfan Khan, Abdul Arbaz, Mushifique Ahmad, Shaikh Shakil and Shahim Ahemad. All of them have been arrested.

The accused were charged under Indian Penal Code sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 341 (wrongful restraint), 153 A (promoting enmity), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 506 (criminal intimidation) as well as provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The accused, working with 'common intention' brutally killed Kolhe in Ghantaghar area of eastern Maharashtra's Amravati city on June 21, 2022 with an aim to strike terror among the people, the NIA said.

The case was initially probed by the local police. The NIA registered a case on July 2 on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Kohle's murder happened exactly a week before the gruesome murder of Kanhaiyalal Teli, a Hindu tailor in Udaipur who was brutally beheaded by two Muslim assailants for expressing support to former BJP spokesperson. The assailants,Mohammad Riyaz Akhtari and Ghouse Mohammad, entered Kanhaiya Lal's shop in Dhan Mandi posing as customers. After hacking him to death with a cleaver at his shop, they posted videos online saying that they were avenging an 'insult' to Islam.

(With inputs from PTI)