Melbourne maths teacher drugged then murdered, Indian police say
Updated ,first published
A Melbourne maths teacher and her beloved father were drugged and killed with a baseball bat before the body was dumped in a canal in India, police said.
Officers in Amritsar in northwestern India have charged the man’s brother with murder as they continue to comb the canal for his body.
The documents seen in this byline show that the brother confessed to the murder; This murder probably followed the brother’s alleged attempt to steal the dead man’s property.
Sunil Sharma was first reported missing on May 22 after traveling from Melbourne to India to sell two investment properties.
The 66-year-old was a maths teacher at Diamond Valley College in Melbourne’s northeast. The school has yet to publicly comment on her disappearance or death.
On Saturday (Melbourne time) Amritsar police provided an update on the criminal investigation.
Officers said they arrested Sunil’s brother Satish Sharma, Satish’s wife Anushka and son Sunish, as well as property dealer Lakshman Singh.
They claimed that Satish and Sunish took Sunil from a house, gave him sleeping pills and killed him by hitting his head with a baseball bat.
Police also claimed that Satish’s wife arrived and the three tried to destroy evidence related to the murder, including a bloody mattress and baseball bat, before dumping Sunil’s body in the Harike canal.
Sunil’s daughter Surbhi Sharma spoke to media outlets the week her father was reported missing and said she was worried that her father had met with something bad.
Surbhi said her father went to India to sell two investment properties so that he could retire in Melbourne.
“There were offers for both,” he said. “He had booked a shipping container to ship his furniture.”
It was understood that the four suspects sold two properties along with Sunil’s sister’s properties by executing a power of attorney.
Surbhi said she didn’t want anyone to associate her father with “the person her brother was”.
“Anyone who meets my dad will tell you he’s smart, strong, and funny, but he’s [was] also loving and sensitive. “He had a good heart and a tough exterior,” he said. “My father was always there for us. “I consider myself very lucky to have a father like him, who taught me everything I know about life today.”
Surbhi also thanked people who wished her and her family well.
Sunil’s death is being felt throughout Australia’s Indian diaspora community. “Sunil Sharma was more than a headline,” wrote the Facebook page Indians of Sydney.
“He was a father. A teacher. A member of our Australian community. A man his daughter describes as smart, strong, funny, loving and sensitive. A man who has spent years educating young minds and is looking forward to returning to Australia after sorting out family matters in India.”
A spokesperson for the Victorian Punjab Community said the group was deeply saddened and shocked by Sharma’s death.
“We extend our sincerest condolences to Mr. Sharma’s family, friends and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. No family should have to endure such a senseless and tragic loss,” Chairman Param Jaswal said in a statement.
“We strongly condemn this heinous crime and call for justice to be served quickly and fairly.”
Jaswal also said that the quick action of the police had provided some assurance to the Sharma family.
“We stand in solidarity with the Sharma family and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
A spokesman for Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment but said the government was aware of the deaths and arrests.
More to come
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Rachael Ward is a journalist on The Age’s City team. Contact her at rachael.ward@theage.com.auConnect via email.
