Case file
Murder of Umesh Kolhe
Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe, a pharmacist who ran the "Amit Medical Store" near Ghantaghar in the Shyam Chowk area of Amravati, Maharashtra, was stabbed to death on the evening of 21 June 2022. Kolhe was attacked by two men while riding his scooter home after closing his pharmacy, at around 10 p.m. His son Sanket and his son's wife Vaishnavi were traveling behind him on a separate scooter at the time of the attack. Kolhe was taken to a nearby hospital but died while receiving treatment.
Police released CCTV footage showing the assailants following Kolhe before the attack. Investigators arrested seven men in connection with the killing, all residents of Amravati, including a man identified as the prime accused, Irfan Khan. Police stated that several of those arrested admitted to killing Kolhe over a social media post he had made in support of Nupur Sharma, a figure involved in the 2022 Prophet remarks row concerning controversial comments about Muhammad. Police also said they recovered the knife allegedly used in the killing.
Given the circumstances — a killing linked to online commentary during a period of communal tension following the Prophet remarks controversy, and occurring shortly after another killing in Udaipur, Rajasthan, that was similarly linked to the row — the National Investigation Agency (NIA) took over the investigation to examine whether there were any links between the two cases.
Key facts
- Victims
- Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe
- Date
- 2022
- Location
- Shyam Chowk, Amravati, Maharashtra, India
- Case status
- solved
Case timeline
2022-06-21
Umesh Kolhe is stabbed by two men while riding his scooter home after closing his pharmacy in Amravati, Maharashtra, at around 10 p.m.; he is taken to a hospital where he later dies.
2022-06
Police release CCTV footage showing the assailants following Kolhe before the attack; seven men, including prime accused Irfan Khan, are arrested.
2022-06
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) takes over the probe into Kolhe's killing to assess possible links to the Udaipur murder.
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People
Irfan Khan
CHARGEDNamed by police as the prime accused among seven men arrested in connection with Kolhe's killing.
Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe
VICTIMPharmacist in Amravati, Maharashtra, fatally stabbed on 21 June 2022 while riding home from his pharmacy.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Places
Common questions
- What happened to the victim?
- Umesh Kolhe, a pharmacist in Amravati, Maharashtra, was stabbed to death on 21 June 2022 while returning home from his shop. Police say he was killed over a social media post he made supporting Nupur Sharma amid the 2022 Prophet remarks controversy, and the case was later taken over by India's National Investigation Agency.
- Where did the murder happen?
- Shyam Chowk, Amravati, Maharashtra, India.
- What is the current status of the case?
- Status: solved. Last verified July 2026.
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Sources
- ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Umesh KolheWikipedia · 2026-07-07
- PRESSShop owner in Amravati likely killed for post supporting Nupur Sharma: Udaipur killingindianexpress.com · 2026-07-07
- PRESSAfter Udaipur, Anti-Terror Probe In Maharashtra Man's Killingndtv.com · 2026-07-07
Record history
- First published
- JUL 07, 2026
- Last verified against sources
- JUL 07, 2026