Personalise the news and
stay in the know
Emergency
Backstory
Newsletters
中文新闻
BERITA BAHASA INDONESIA
TOK PISIN
Find any issues using dark mode? Please let us know
By Sacha Payne
Topic:Missing Person
Thu 28 May 2026 at 4:56am
Surbhi Sharma says she last heard from her father Sunil nearly a week ago. (Supplied)
Melbourne man Sunil Sharma last made contact with his family nearly a week ago, during a trip to India to sell property.
His daughter says Punjabi police have launched an investigation amid fears of a possible kidnapping or extortion attempt.
The Department of Foreign Affairs is providing consular assistance to the family.
A Melbourne woman whose father has gone missing in India says she fears he could have met with foul play.
Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old Australian citizen, was visiting India to prepare an investment property for sale.
His daughter, Surbhi Sharma, told the ABC she had been in touch with him during his trip, but had last heard from him on Friday.
"I got a call Saturday morning [from my brother] saying, 'Have you spoken to Dad?'" she said.
"And I said, 'No, I've not heard from him since yesterday morning.'''
Sunil Sharma went missing on Friday while trying to sell a property in India. (Supplied)
Ms Sharma said her father, a Melbourne high school maths teacher nearing retirement, had been at his property in Amritsar, in the state of Punjab, in India's north-west, overseeing painters preparing the unit for sale.
She said one of her father's friends in India had raised the alarm with local authorities, who had been unable to locate Mr Sharma.
"So my dad and my dad's car are completely gone," she said.
Ms Sharma said local police were trying to reach her uncle, who was also seen at the property but has since disappeared.
Local media is reporting that Indian police are investigating Mr Sharma's brother in relation to a possible abduction. The ABC has contacted Indian police for comment.
"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," she said.
Ms Sharma said she had been told local police also wanted to speak to a potential buyer who had been seen at the property.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing consular assistance to the family of an Australian reported missing in India.
Ms Sharma said she was receiving updates from the Australian Embassy in India and had been told that Interpol had been alerted.
She and her brother have decided not to travel to India for now for safety reasons.
Sunil Sharma with his daughter Surbhi and son Saransh. (Supplied)
Ms Sharma has barely slept since her father was reported missing and said the lack of information was frustrating.
"I feel so helpless," she said.
"It's just been really hard, and every day that goes by, it's just really tough.
"I just really hope that they're just searching for him everywhere, and just my ideal scenario is just he's well and being taken care of somewhere, and just hasn't been able to make contact with us.
"I can't think of all the thousands of possibilities that there are in this situation."
Topic:Weather
Topic:Weather
Topic:Roads
Topic:Crime
Topic:Endangered and Protected Species
Thu 28 May 2026 at 4:56am
Thu 28 May 2026 at 10:22am
LIVE
LIVE
Topic:Housing Policy
Topic:Batteries
Topic:Teenagers
Topic:Journalism
BREAKING
LIVE
Diamond Creek
India
Melbourne
Missing Person
LIVE
LIVE
Topic:Housing Policy
Topic:Batteries
Topic:Teenagers
Topic:Australian Federal Elections
Thu 28 May 2026 at 12:10pm
Topic:War
Thu 28 May 2026 at 12:00pm
BREAKING
Thu 28 May 2026 at 11:58am
Topic:Human Trafficking
Thu 28 May 2026 at 11:50am
Your home of Australian stories, conversations and events that shape our nation.
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn, and work.
Sign up to get the latest on your favourite topics from the ABC
Leave a Reply