Amritsar: The search for a 66-year-old Australian citizen of Indian origin who went missing during a visit to Punjab has ended tragically, with police confirming that he was murdered and several suspects, including his brother, have been arrested.
Amritsar Rural Police said the victim, Sunil Sharma, had been missing since May 22 while visiting Punjab. Authorities initially treated the case as a suspected abduction before uncovering evidence that led investigators to a homicide probe.
Senior police officials said a major breakthrough came after investigators identified Sharma’s brother, Sunny Sharma, as a key suspect in the case. Preliminary findings indicate that a long-running property dispute between the two brothers may have been the motive behind the crime.
Sunil Sharma, a mathematics teacher based in Melbourne, had travelled to Punjab to attend to matters related to a property in Amritsar and to oversee maintenance work at the residence. When he failed to return home or contact family members, concern grew among relatives in both India and Australia.
Police launched an extensive investigation after Sharma was reported missing. As the probe progressed, suspicion shifted towards close associates and family members, eventually leading investigators to the alleged involvement of his brother and other suspects.
Authorities confirmed that the accused have been taken into custody and are being questioned. Police are expected to provide further details regarding the sequence of events, the alleged motive and the circumstances surrounding the killing during an official media briefing.
Officials also revealed that one of the arrested suspects was already wanted in a separate narcotics-related case being investigated by Himachal Pradesh Police.
The case, which attracted attention in both India and Australia, is expected to be converted from an abduction investigation into a murder case following the latest developments. Further details regarding the recovery of the victim’s remains and the possible involvement of additional suspects are likely to emerge as the investigation progresses.
