Melbourne teacher murdered by brother in India over property dispute
Consensus Summary
Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Melbourne maths teacher and father of two, went missing on May 22, 2026, while in Amritsar, Punjab, India, to sell two investment properties. Indian police allege his brother, Satish Sharma, drugged him with sleeping pills, struck him with a baseball bat, and dumped his body in the Harike canal. Four individuals, including Satish Sharma, his wife Anushka, their son Sunish, and property dealer Lakshman Singh, were arrested. Authorities claim the accused fabricated a power of attorney to sell properties belonging to Sunil and his sister, motivating the murder over a property dispute. Sunil’s daughter, Surbhi Sharma, described him as a loving and dedicated teacher, while the Australian Indian diaspora community and his former colleagues at Diamond Valley College expressed shock and condolences. Police continue searching for his remains, and the case has drawn attention to the swift response of Indian authorities.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Melbourne maths teacher, went missing on May 22, 2026, in Amritsar, Punjab, India
- Sunil Sharma was allegedly murdered by his brother, Satish Sharma, over a property dispute
- Satish Sharma allegedly drugged Sunil Sharma with sleeping pills and struck him with a baseball bat, killing him
- Four people were arrested: Satish Sharma, his wife Anushka, their son Sunish, and property dealer Lakshman Singh
- Sunil Sharma’s body was allegedly dumped in the Harike canal in Amritsar, Punjab, India
- Sunil Sharma’s daughter, Surbhi Sharma, described him as 'intelligent, strong, funny, loving, and sensitive'
- Sunil Sharma taught at Diamond Valley College in Melbourne for 13 years
- The accused allegedly fabricated a power of attorney to sell properties owned by Sunil Sharma and his sister
- Sunil Sharma traveled to India to sell two investment properties before his disappearance
- Indian police allege the accused tried to destroy evidence, including a bloody mattress and the baseball bat
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The president of the Punjabi Club of Victoria, Param Jaswal, acknowledged the 'prompt and professional efforts of local police' in the investigation.
- Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of the arrests and is in regular contact with local authorities.
- Documents seen by The Age suggest Satish Sharma has confessed to the murder.
- The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade declined to comment but confirmed awareness of the death and arrests.
- The Facebook page 'Indians of Sydney' posted a tribute to Sunil Sharma, calling him 'a father, a teacher, and a member of our Australian community.'
- A photo of Satish Sharma (in red face covering) with police during arrest was included in the article.
- Surbhi Sharma mentioned a 'major search was underway to recover her father’s body' and thanked the Diamond Valley College community for tributes.
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- The Guardian and ABC state Sunil Sharma was 66, but The Age does not explicitly mention his age.
- The Guardian and ABC mention Surbhi Sharma’s brother Saransh Sharma in a photo caption, but The Age does not reference him by name.
Source Articles
Missing Melbourne teacher allegedly drugged and murdered by brother in India
Sunil Sharma disappeared in Punjab state on 22 May, with police arresting four people, including his brother Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast An Australian teacher who went missing in India for two weeks was allegedly murdered by his brother over a property dispute, police say. Melbourne maths teacher Sunil Sharma disappeared on 22 May after he travelled to Amritsar, in India’s north-western Punjab state. Continue
Melbourne maths teacher drugged, bashed with baseball bat, then dumped in canal, say Indian police
Police in the city of Amritsar have accused Sunil Sharma’s brother of murdering the Melbourne teacher over a property dispute.
Missing Melbourne teacher allegedly murdered by brother in India
Indian authorities allege Melbourne maths teacher Sunil Sharma was murdered by his brother and dumped in a canal. He had been in India to prepare a property for sale.