The public prosecutor replied to the defense’s argument and said that Irrfan Khan was the main conspirator behind the murder of medicine shop owner Umesh Pralhadrao Kolhe in Amravati last month.
Irfan Khan, age 35, the asserted master planner of the murder of a medical shop owner in Amravati, Maharashtra this past month, was produced on Sunday afternoon in a magistrate’s court and will be kept in police custody till July 7.
Neelima Araj, the senior inspector of City Kotwali Police, Maharashtra, contends before the court magistrate that the master planner, Irfan Khan, had inspired the other accused to kill Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe.
She told the court magistrate that they needed Irfan to recover the killer’s two-wheeler, mobile phone, and four-wheeler and to confiscate his bank account details used to run his NGOs helpline “Rahebar”.
Senior inspector Neelima Araj said that Irfan’s mobile phone is needed to unearth more evidence in the case.
Court arguments and counters
The lawyer for the accused argued with another lawyer, Waseem Shaikh, and said, “My client is a social worker and helped many people during the COVID pandemic.”
He was not present at the crime scene and had nothing to do with the murder. So, their custodial interrogation is not required.
The public prosecutor opposed the defense’s contention that the criminal conspiracy section was invoked and held that the accused was the main conspirator.
After listening to both sides’ words, Court Magistrate AR Kalhapure sent Irrfan Khan to police custody.
54-year-old Umesh Prahladrao Kolhe was murdered on June 21. This was allegedly for circulating a social media post supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s derogatory remarks about the Prophet.
On Saturday, police confirmed the arrests of Irrfan Khan and a 44-year-old veterinary doctor, Yusuf Khan, taking the total number of arrests in the murder case to seven.
On the same day, India’s Union Home Ministry gave the case to the National Investigation Agency.
More about the accused
Irfan Khan, who was arrested from Nagpur, was a resident of a chawl in the Kamela area of Pathan Chowk in Amravati and was entrusted with the task of allegedly conspiring with five of the five accused.
According to the police, he also provided logistical support like vehicles and cash. He was their friend and, through them, volunteered in social activities.
