The brother of a Melbourne father who disappeared in India has been arrested and charged with murder after allegedly confessing to the killing.

Sunil Sharma, a 66-year-old maths teacher at Diamond Valley College, travelled to India to sell two properties so he could return to Australia to retire.

His disappearance was deemed suspicious, with family members saying his brother Sunny Sharma was the last person to see him alive.

Two weeks after Sharma went missing, Indian police have charged Sunny with his brother’s murder.

Sunny allegedly confessed to killing his brother and disposing of his body in a river with the help of his son, before the pair went on the run.

Authorities are yet to confirm if they have recovered Sunil’s body.

Sunil’s daughter Surbhi, who spoke to media last week pleading for information about her father, has released an emotional statement.

“Anyone who’s met my dad will say he is intelligent, strong and funny, but he is also loving and sensitive. I count myself so lucky to have had a father like him,” she said.

She also thanked the students at Diamond Valley College where her father worked.

“It warms my heart to read and know he gave the gift of education to hundreds of students over the course of his life.”

In India, the charge of murder can carry a life sentence or possibly even the death penalty.