Fears Melbourne man met with foul play on trip to India

A Melbourne woman is deeply concerned her father may have been a victim of foul play after he went missing during a trip to India. Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Australian citizen and retired maths teacher, was in Amritsar, Punjab, to oversee the sale of an investment property.

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I got a call Saturday morning [from my brother] saying, "Have you spoken to Dad?"

His daughter, Surbhi Sharma, last heard from her father on Friday. She reported that he was at his property, overseeing painters, when he disappeared. A friend in India raised the alarm with local authorities, who have been unable to locate Mr. Sharma or his vehicle.

Adding to the family's distress, Mr. Sharma's brother, who was also present at the property on Friday, has also disappeared. Local police are reportedly searching for him as well. Authorities also wish to speak with a potential buyer who was seen at the property.

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And I said, 'No, I've not heard from him since yesterday morning'.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to the Sharma family. Interpol has been alerted, and the family is receiving updates through the Australian Embassy in India. Surbhi Sharma and her brother have chosen not to travel to India for their safety, citing concerns about potential kidnapping or extortion risks for family members.

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So my dad and my dad's car are completely gone.

Ms. Sharma expressed her profound helplessness and frustration over the lack of information. She is struggling with the uncertainty, hoping for her father's safe return, but unable to fully comprehend the many possibilities surrounding his disappearance.

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My dad's brother … I believe is also someone the police are searching for at the moment because my dad's brother was last seen in the house on Friday.