Archive · 19 Aug 2026
Special NIA Court Rejects Bail in Umesh Kolhe Murder Case
A court in the Umesh Kolhe murder case refused bail to Abdul Arbaz Abdul Salim.
Bail would have allowed him to remain out of custody while the case continued.
Kolhe was a medical-store owner who was killed in Amravati in June 2022.
Prosecutors say Abdul helped the people accused of carrying out the killing.
They say he attended a meeting, helped check whether Kolhe had died and helped the others leave the area.
Abdul’s lawyer says he was falsely accused and had only passed on limited information.
The court said the evidence described in the case suggested Abdul had an active role.
The court also said repeated legal applications had delayed the trial.
The special NIA court rejected Abdul Arbaz Abdul Salim’s bail plea in the Umesh Kolhe murder case.
The 27-year-old driver is accused of assisting the main assailants after Kolhe was killed in Amravati on June 21, 2022.
The prosecution alleged that Abdul attended a conspiracy meeting, helped verify Kolhe’s death and assisted the assailants’ escape.
Abdul’s lawyer argued that he was falsely implicated and had only reported that someone had been murdered without knowing Kolhe’s identity.
The court said Abdul’s alleged actions showed a prima facie active role and blamed repeated bail and discharge applications for delaying the trial.
- Who
- Abdul Arbaz Abdul Salim, a 27-year-old driver, and the other accused in the murder of chemist Umesh Kolhe.
- What
- The special NIA court rejected Abdul’s bail plea, finding that allegations of his active involvement were prima facie credible.
- When
- The decision was reported on August 18, 2026; Umesh Kolhe was killed on June 21, 2022.
- Where
- The alleged murder occurred in Amravati, and the case was heard by a special NIA court.
- Why
- The court cited Abdul’s alleged participation in the conspiracy, support for the assailants and assistance in helping co-accused members abscond.
Defense Arguments
Prosecution and Court Findings
Nature of Abdul’s role
Defense Arguments
Abdul’s lawyer argued that he was falsely implicated and that his role was limited to reporting that some people had murdered someone, without identifying Kolhe or showing knowledge of a conspiracy.
Prosecution and Court Findings
The prosecution alleged that Abdul attended a meeting after an earlier attempt failed, helped verify Kolhe’s death, informed others and assisted the assailants in reaching Paratwada to avoid arrest.
Basis for denying bail
Defense Arguments
The defense sought bail on the basis that the alleged conduct did not establish Abdul’s involvement in the conspiracy.
Prosecution and Court Findings
The court said Abdul had supported the actual assailants, helped co-accused members abscond and remained in contact with them before and after the murder, making the allegations prima facie credible.
- Accused
- Abdul Arbaz Abdul Salim
- Age
- 27
- Victim
- Umesh Kolhe, a chemist and medical-store owner
- Date of murder
- June 21, 2022
- Location of murder
- Amravati
- Court decision
- Bail plea rejected
- Court’s finding
- The allegations against Abdul were prima facie true