71-year-old US woman travelled to Punjab to marry UK-based NRI, 75; found dead

A 71-year-old Indian woman, who travelled to Punjab from the US to marry a UK-based NRI man, was found dead. The case came to light recently after Ludhiana Police registered an FIR over Rupinder Kaur Pandher's disappearance and named suspects, including her would-be husband, Charanjit Singh Grewal.

The incident dates back to July when Pandher, an American citizen based in Seattle, arrived in the state at the invitation of Grewal, the 75-year-old would-be groom originally from Ludhiana, the PTI news agency quoted police as saying.

According to the police, the victim's sister, Kamal Kaur Khairah, grew suspicious when she found Pandher's phone switched off on July 24.

Four days later, she informed the US Embassy in Delhi, following which the local police in Ludhiana began its probe.

Ludhiana resident, Sukhjeet Singh Sonu, has been arrested after he allegedly confessed to killing Pandher on Grewal's instructions for Rs 50 lakh.

Sonu said he killed her in his house and later burnt the body in a storeroom.

The police said the motive was financial. Pandher had transferred a significant amount of money to Grewal before her arrival in Ludhiana.

Deputy Inspector General (Ludhiana Police Range) Satinder Singh confirmed that Grewal, who is currently on the run, has been named as a suspect in the case.

Police said efforts are on to find the victim's remains based on Sonu's disclosure.

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(With PTI inputs)