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Melbourne maths teacher Sunil Sharma, who vanished in India two weeks ago, was murdered by his own brother and five others over a property dispute, police have alleged.
Sharma had travelled to Amritsar in Punjab in northern India, to oversee renovation work at his house.
Four people, including the victim's own brother Satish Sharma and sister-in-law Anushka, have been arrested over the murder. The others arrested include Satish’s son Sunish Sharma and local property agent Lakshman Singh Bal. Punjab police alleged the 66-year-old was killed for a property worth around 5 to 6 crore rupees (approximately AUD $730,000-880,000).
Sharma, had taught maths at Diamond Valley College in Melbourne's northeast for 15 years and was due to retire later this year. He had been missing since May 22, 2026. His daughter Surbhi Sharma had raised concerns for his welfare and had publicly pleaded for information on his whereabouts.
Lured To India, DRUGGED, KILLED, DUMPED IN A CANAL
On Saturday, Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural) Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal told a media briefing that Sharma was spiked with sleeping pills before being beaten to death with a baseball bat. His body was then dumped in the canal near Harike to destroy evidence.
"The murder was driven by greed over a property," SSP Chahal said. "The victim's own brother and sister-in-law are among those involved in the crime."
Reports in the Indian media said that Sharma's brother, Satish Sharma had allegedly lured him to India under the guise of arranging a property sale. The police said that Satish had already fabricated a fraudulent power of attorney in Ludhiana to quietly transfer ownership of Sunil's assets, including the Amritsar house.
Police claimed Satish had confessed to killing his brother and dumping the body in the canal with help from his son.
CCTV Footage Reveals Last Sighting
Amritsar, Punjab: Amritsar Rural Police has solved a missing NRI case, revealing it to be a murder linked to a property grab conspiracy. Police have arrested four accused, while two property dealers remain absconding. Investigations into the case continue. pic.twitter.com/uUe51oJ7Dw
— IANS (@ians_india) June 6, 2026
Sharma had been making regular trips to India since his wife's death four years ago. According to his family in Melbourne, he had intended to sort through family property matters in India on his latest visit ahead of a planned retirement.
Sharma’s last known movements were captured on CCTV. The footage from the property shows Sharma arriving twice to oversee a group of painters. His brother Satish is then seen arriving at the property before the painters are sent away. That was the last confirmed sighting.
Satish had then fled with his family before they were nabbed in Delhi, Indian media reported.
Sharma's body had not been recovered at the time of publication. Two suspects remain at large.
