Maharashtra: Prime accused in Amravati chemist murder arrested from Nagpur

The arrested has been identified as Irfan Khan (32), who runs an NGO, police said.

The 54-year-old chemist was stabbed to death in Amravati city of Maharashtra on June 21 and police suspected that the murder was committed as a retaliation for the post written by Kolhe supporting Nupur Sharma on Facebook.

The incident took place when Kolhe was going home back on a two-wheeler after closing his shop.

His son Saket (27) and his wife Vaishnavi were accompanying him on a different vehicle.

Earlier, Home Minister Amit Shah on Satuday ordered a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the murder.

The spokesperson tweeted that the NIA would probe the conspiracy behind the killing of the chemist, Umesh Kolhe, who was hacked to death on June 21.

The NIA would also thoroughly investigate any involvement of organisations and international linkages, the spokesperson said.

Apart from Irfan Khan, 5 more people have been arrested in connection with the killing of the chemist so far.

Media reports said that the local BJP leaders have claimed that Kolhe had made social media posts supporting Nupur Sharma, a former BJP spokesperson whose comments on Prophet Mohammed sparked massive controversy and a chain of violent incidents engulfed several parts of the country.

Initially, it was thought that Kolhe was murdered by robbers but the theories lacked substance and proof, said the reports.

BJP leaders allege that if his murder was highlighted properly, Kanhaiya Lal, a Hindu tailor in Rajasthan's Udaipur could have been saved as the assailants killed him in a similar fashion and for the same reason.