Bombay High Court Denies Bail to Accused in Amravati Murder Case

Court Observes Case Has Terrorism Link

Umesh Kolhe

Mumbai — The Bombay High Court has rejected the bail application of Yusuf Khan, a veterinarian accused in the murder of Amravati-based chemist Umesh Kolhe. Kolhe was killed in 2022 after he shared a WhatsApp message in support of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

While denying bail, the High Court observed that, prima facie, the case was not merely a murder but had links to terrorism. The Court noted that the accused allegedly conspired to take revenge over Sharma’s remarks and that Kolhe’s killing was carried out with the intent to spread fear among the public.

Observations of the Division Bench

1.A Division Bench comprising Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice Shyam C. Chandak made the following observations:

2.Evidence presented by the investigating agencies indicates that the act was not an ordinary crime or a case of routine violence. Accordingly, the application of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and continued incarceration of the accused were found to be justified.

3.Yusuf Khan had written a message in Hindi allegedly calling upon people to “teach Kolhe a lesson.”

The accused claimed that his intention was merely to call for a boycott of Kolhe’s business. However, the Court found this explanation unconvincing. It observed that if the intention had been limited to a business boycott, the message would have been confined to customers. Instead, Khan circulated it across numerous WhatsApp groups, indicating an intent to incite and target.

The defence counsel for Yusuf Khan argued that the case stemmed from a commercial dispute. The Court rejected this contention, holding that the accused had deliberately engaged in provocation.

Background of the Umesh Kolhe Murder

Umesh Kolhe ran a medical shop in Amravati. On the night of June 21, 2022, he was attacked and killed while returning home after closing his shop. The incident occurred amid unrest following allegations that Nupur Sharma had made objectionable remarks about the Prophet.

On June 14, 2022, Kolhe had shared a photograph and a message supporting Sharma in a WhatsApp group. According to the prosecution, the murder was not a spontaneous act but part of a premeditated conspiracy linked to the violence that followed the controversy.