Mumbai Special NIA Court Rejects Bail in Umesh Kolhe Murder Case
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai on Tuesday rejected the bail application of Abdul Arbaz Abdul Salim, an accused in the 2022 murder of Amravati veterinary medical shop owner Umesh Kolhe, ruling that the killing was intended to strike terror and constituted a terrorist act.
Special Judge Chakor S Baviskar observed that the crime was committed to create terror among people who supported former Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma following her controversial remarks in May 2022. The court held that the offence falls under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Rejecting the defence argument that Section 15 of the UAPA had not been explicitly invoked in the chargesheet, the court noted that the accused used knives, which come within the scope of lethal weapons, to execute the killing. The judge stated that the murder was not an impulsive flare-up, but a pre-planned act determined to wreak revenge following a failed attempt to kill Kolhe a day earlier.
According to the prosecution, the accused had monitored Kolhe's movements, conducted a recce, procured weapons, and assigned roles prior to carrying out the murder on June 21, 2022. Abdul allegedly attended a planning meeting on June 20, 2022, and later helped the assailants flee by car to different locations outside Amravati. He also accompanied co-accused Irfan Khan while seeking shelter.
The prosecution further alleged that Abdul went to the hospital where Kolhe was taken after the attack to check if he was dead, and subsequently informed Khan once the death was confirmed. The NIA supported its case with statements from roughly 21 witnesses along with call detail records and technical evidence.
Abdul had sought bail on grounds of prolonged detention without the framing of charges since August 2022. However, the court dismissed this plea, noting that the accused had contributed to procedural delays by repeatedly filing bail and discharge applications. Judge Baviskar termed the defence's arguments regarding speedy trial rights a mockery of the legal process before denying relief.
