Umesh Kolhe murder: NIA raids 13 places in Maharashtra’s Amravati, seizes pamphlets spreading hate messages

During the searches conducted at the premises of the accused and suspects, the NIA claimed to have also seized digital devices (mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards, DVRs), knives and other incriminating documents and materials. The case pertains to the murder of Kolhe, who was allegedly killed on the night of June 21 in Amaravati for certain social media posts.

TN National Desk

Updated Jul 6, 2022, 22:21 IST

Umesh Kolhe

Photo : ANI

New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday conducted searches at 13 locations in Maharashtra in the killing of Amravati-based pharmacist Umesh Kolhe and seized various incriminating documents comprising pamphlets for spreading hate messages.

Kolhe was killed on June 21 after he wrote a post in support of the expelled BJP leader Nupur Sharma on Facebook.

Meanwhile, a local leader of the Popular Front of India (PFI) was questioned by police here on Wednesday in connection with the killing of a pharmacist who had shared social media posts backing Nupur Sharma.

The National Investigation Agency, which has taken over the principal probe into the murder of Umesh Kolhe, meanwhile conducted searches at several places in Maharashtra during the day.

Sohail Nadvi, Amravati district head of PFI, was taken to Nagpuri Gate police station and was questioned, said an official. He was allowed to leave later. Deputy Commissioner of Police Vikram Sali said police were investigating his suspected connection with the arrested accused. Kolhe was killed in the Amravati city of eastern Maharashtra on the night of June 21.

The case was initially registered at Amaravati's City Kotvali police station on June 22. The NIA re-registered the case on July 2 following an order from the Ministry of Home Affairs and took over the investigation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on July 1 directed the NIA to take over a probe into the brutal killing of Kolhe.

The said the killing took place exactly a week before tailor Kanhaiyalal Teli was hacked to death in Rajasthan’s Udaipur, a case that shocked the whole country.

Investigators so far believe that Kolhe, a 54-year-old chemist, was killed allegedly in retaliation for a social media post supporting BJP’s Nupur Sharma who had made controversial comments on the Prophet in a television debate.

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