Amritsar police solve missing Australian NRI mystery, allege property grab plot led to murder; brother among 4 arrested
PTC Web Desk: What initially appeared to be a missing person case involving an Australian-based NRI has taken a shocking turn, with the Amritsar rural police uncovering an alleged murder conspiracy linked to a property dispute. Four accused have been arrested while two others remain absconding.
According to the police, on May 23, Gaurav Kandhari, a resident of Fatehgarh Churian, reported at the Kamboh police station that his friend, Sunil Sharma, an Australian citizen, residing at Ashiana Estate, Phase-10, Mohali, had gone missing.
Sunil had travelled from Mohali to his house at Ashiana Estate on Fatehgarh Churian Road, Amritsar, on May 22 to oversee painting work at the property. When attempts to contact him failed and his phone remained switched off, a missing person report was registered and a search operation was launched.
During the investigation, fresh leads and suspicious circumstances emerged. On May 24, Daribjot Singh, a friend of the missing NRI, informed the police that Sunil Sharma had returned from Australia about a month earlier to sell his properties in Punjab. He alleged that Sunil’s brother, Satish Sharma alias Sunny, may have abducted him with the intention of causing harm. Based on the complaint, a case under relevant provisions was registered at the Kamboh police station.
Addressing the media, SSP, Amritsar Rural, Kanwalpreet Singh Chahal, said special teams were constituted to investigate the case. The teams examined CCTV footage, technical evidence, toll plaza records and gathered human intelligence, leading to significant breakthroughs.
The police have arrested Satish Sharma alias Sunny, son of Mahavir Sharma (arrested on June 5), Anushka Sharma, wife of Satish Sharma (arrested on June 5), Sunish Sharma, son of Satish Sharma (arrested on June 5) and Lachhman Singh alias Ball, son of Jagir Singh, resident of RB Estate, Amritsar (arrested on June 6).
The following accused have been nominated in the case and are yet to be arrested: Manjinder Singh, son of Sahib Singh, resident of Mehmudpura, and Jajbir Singh alias Baba, resident of Bhaggupur.
According to SSP Chahal, the investigation revealed that Manjinder Singh, Jajbir Singh, and Lachhman Singh were working as property dealers. The police alleged that Satish Sharma conspired with the three property dealers to illegally acquire his brother Sunil Sharma’s house in Ashiana Estate and his sister Ritu’s property in Blue City.
As part of the conspiracy, a Power of Attorney was allegedly prepared in Satish Sharma’s favour from Ludhiana. Using this document, both properties were reportedly transferred to the names of the three property dealers through transactions carried out at the Amritsar Tehsil Complex on May 11.
The police said the accused then devised a plan to lure Sunil Sharma to Amritsar under the pretext of selling the property. On May 22, the three property dealers allegedly gathered at Lachhman Singh’s residence in R.B. Estate, where they crushed sleeping pills into powder.
Investigators allege that the accused later reached Sunil Sharma’s house while painting work was underway. When food was arranged for the workers, the accused allegedly mixed the powdered sleeping pills into the food meant for Sunil Sharma. They also brought beer for him. After consuming the food and alcohol, Sunil reportedly fell asleep.
The police further alleged that around 3.30 pm, Satish Sharma and his son Sunish arrived at the house. Following an argument, Satish Sharma allegedly struck his brother on the head with a baseball bat, resulting in his death on the spot.
According to the police investigation, Satish Sharma’s wife, Anushka Sharma, subsequently joined them, and the body was wrapped in pieces of a mattress before being placed in Sunil Sharma’s own Maruti Suzuki vehicle. The accused allegedly took possession of keys to Sunil’s Mohali residence from his pocket.
Acting on the advice of the property dealers, Satish Sharma and his son allegedly transported the body to the Harike canal area and disposed of it in the river. To mislead investigators, the accused later parked Sunil Sharma’s car in the parking area near Sri Darbar Sahib and abandoned it there.
The police said Satish Sharma, his wife, and son subsequently vacated their residence, loaded their belongings into a truck, handed over property and vehicle keys to the property dealers, and fled first to Delhi before renting accommodation in Mithapur village near Jalandhar, where they remained in hiding.
On June 6, based on disclosures made by the accused during interrogation, police teams reached Harike Pattan and conducted extensive search operations in the presence of a duty magistrate. However, due to the strong water current, the body of Sunil Sharma could not be recovered. Search teams have been deployed downstream and efforts to locate the body are continuing.
SSP Chahal said the arrest of the two remaining property dealers is pending and further significant revelations are expected.
CASE BACKGROUND Amritsar: Australia-based NRI missing case cracked: Brother arrested for murder, body yet to be recovered
- PTC NEWS
