New Delhi: The Maharashtra Police has slapped the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act [UAPA] against all the seven accused in the murder case of Umesh Kolhe, who was killed in Amravati, allegedly for supporting statements made by the now-suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma on Prophet Muhammad, the Indian Express has reported.

The state police formally handed over the case on Monday, July 4, to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) – which suspects that there is a terror angle to the case.

The seven accused are now charged under Sections 16 (punishment for terrorist act), 18 (punishment for conspiracy) and 20 (punishment for being member of terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA. "The UAPA had been applied as the murder has been committed with an intention to terrorise people," an Indian Express report quoted a senior police official as saying.

Among the accused, one Atib Rashid was sent to judicial custody while police custody of four others ended on Monday, July 4. The NIA will seek further custody of these four. Meanwhile, the sixth accused, Dr Yusuf Khan, is still in police custody.

The seventh accused, identified as Irfan Khan (35) – the alleged mastermind – was nabbed on the night of July 2. He was produced before a magistrate on the afternoon of July 3 and was sent to police custody until July 7.

Also read: Maharashtra: Amravati Man Murdered Allegedly for Social Media Post Supporting Nupur Sharma

According to the IE report, Neelima Araj, a senior inspector of the local Kotwali city police, told the magistrate that Khan hatched the murder plan and the police would need his custody to recover his mobile phone, a two-wheeler, a four-wheeler and to obtain his bank account, which was used to run his NGO Rahebar’s helpline.

Representing Khan, advocates Murtuza Azad and Wasim Shaikh, said: "My client is a social worker and helped many people during the pandemic. He was not at the spot and has nothing to do with the crime. His custodial interrogation is not required."

However, after the hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defence lawyers, magistrate A.R. Kalhapure remanded Khan in police custody till July 7.

According to police, Khan, who was picked up from Nagpur, is a resident of Pathan Chowk and allegedly conspired with the five accused to murder Kolhe. He is also said to have assigned them tasks and provided them with logistical support, including vehicles and money.

The police said five of the accused were friends of Khan and volunteered in social activities carried out by him through the Rahebar helpline. The sixth accused, a veterinary doctor, is also said to be known to Khan.

Khan is known in his neighbourhood as someone who carried out relief work during COVID-19 and carried out protests against the National Register of Citizens. Many of his neighbours believe that he is "falsely implicated". For the last one week, his house has been closed, and his neighbours are in "utter shock".

Kolhe (54), a local chemist, was stabbed to death in Amravati city on June 21, allegedly for sharing a social media post in support of Sharma's controversial remarks.

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