‘Evil Betrayal’: Australian Maths Teacher Sunil Sharma ‘Murdered by Own Brother’ in India, Police Allege
- Indian police claim Sunil Sharma, 66, was drugged and bludgeoned to death with a baseball bat by his brother Satish Sharma
- The Melbourne teacher had gone to India to settle property matters before his retirement, but went missing on May 22
- Satish Sharma, his wife, and son have been arrested and accused of dumping Sunil’s body in a canal, which police are still searching for
- Sunil’s daughter Surbhi has paid tribute to her ‘intelligent, strong and funny’ father, saying she feels lucky to have had him in her life
Sunil Sharma, a respected maths teacher at Melbourne’s Diamond Valley College, had been preparing for a well-deserved retirement. But his dream of enjoying his golden years was brutally cut short, allegedly at the hands of his own brother.
Indian police claim that Satish Sharma, 66, was drugged and murdered by his brother Satish, who then dumped his body in a canal.
Sunil had traveled to his country of birth to attend to some property matters, but went missing on May 22. His family back in Melbourne was left frantic with worry, and a desperate search effort was launched to find him.
But it was too late. According to Indian authorities, Satish Sharma had given his brother a drink spiked with sleeping pills, before bludgeoning him to death with a baseball bat.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwalpreet Singh alleged that Satish Sharma’s wife and son had assisted in removing a blood-stained mattress and the baseball bat, before dumping Sunil’s body in a canal.
The police search for Sunil’s body is still ongoing.
Sunil’s daughter Surbhi was informed of her uncle’s arrest by authorities, and his alleged confession to the crime. She has paid a heart-wrenching tribute to her father, describing him as ‘intelligent, strong and funny’, with a ‘good heart’.
‘My dad was always there for us, and sometimes even a little too much,’ she said. ‘But I count myself so lucky to have had a father like him, who taught me everything I know about life today.’
Sunil’s community has rallied around his family, with tributes pouring in from the Diamond Valley College community, where he had taught for 13 years.
‘He would’ve loved to see everyone recognise him, and it warms my heart to read and know he gave the gift of education to hundreds of students over the course of his life,’ Surbhi said.
Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of the arrests and is in regular contact with Indian authorities. The Department of Education has also issued a statement expressing its condolences on behalf of Diamond Valley College, where Mr Sharma worked for 13 years.
‘Mr Sharma was a dedicated and valued member of the Diamond Valley College community,’ a spokesperson said. ‘Our heartfelt sympathies and thoughts are with Mr Sharma’s family, friends, colleagues and students.’
Analysis: What This Means for Australia
The alleged murder of Sunil Sharma raises serious concerns about the safety of Australian citizens traveling abroad, particularly in India.
While the exact circumstances of the crime are still unclear, it highlights the need for Australians to exercise extreme caution when dealing with family or business matters in foreign countries.
The Australian government must also ensure that it is providing adequate support to citizens who find themselves in such situations, and work closely with foreign authorities to ensure justice is served.
Security analysts say that the case also raises questions about the effectiveness of Indian law enforcement in dealing with crimes against foreigners.
‘This is a wake-up call for Indian authorities to take crimes against foreigners more seriously, and to ensure that they are investigated thoroughly and promptly,’ said one analyst.
Law enforcement insiders warn that the case may also have implications for Australian authorities, who must now work closely with their Indian counterparts to ensure that justice is served.
‘This is a complex case that will require close cooperation between Australian and Indian authorities,’ said one source. ‘We need to ensure that we are doing everything we can to support the Sharma family, while also ensuring that justice is served.’
