HYDERABAD: The murder of 32-year-old Indian dentist Preethi Reddy in Sydney has taken a twist with Alok Narde, the brother of the suspect Harshwardhan Narde, claiming that his brother would not have killed Preethi Reddy.

'We feel it’s too difficult to believe that this could be an act of a single person,” he said in a statement. “It is too sad and unfair to him,” he said. “We wish to humbly submit that there could still be some open angles to probe involvement of any other person,” he added.

Alok Narde, a doctor in India, also said he also would not have killed himself in an accident, something the police described as a deliberate act. He said his brother Harshwardhan had also spoken to a friend just 20 minutes before prior to the road mishap and said that he would be returning to his home in Tamworth. He had also stopped his car to take the call.

Preethi Reddy whose family hails from Mahbubnagar in Telangana , India, was in a relationship with Harshwardhan Narde earlier. However, when attended a conference in Sydney, it appears they met up after the conference.

When her sister was missing, Nithya Reddy sent a text message to Harshwardhan Narde’s family to enquire if they had any clue about Preethi Reddy.

“Sorry to message but I was wonderful if you have spoken to Harsh recently? He may be missing. My sister (Preethi Reddy) who he was previously in a relationship with is confirmed missing from 11 am Sunday morning (3/3/19) Sydney Eastern standard time. She was a at a conference with Harsh on Friday and Saturday in Sydney. If you have any information about where he is please get back to us,” she said giving her phone number on Facebook messenger .

With Harwardhan being suspected of the murder, Alok said it was not fair to suspect his brother. "He was conscious enough to follow traffic sense and rules such as stopping his vehicle prior to taking a call and sensible enough to honour a friend's genuine request to return back home," Alok Narde said in a statement.

Alok Narde said the friend had informed him that Harshwardhan was "composed" when he spoke to him. This, even after being grilled by the police for practically an entire day trying to find out from him about Preethi Reddy disappearance as she was known to have visited the hotel where he had been staying.

Preethi Reddy, a dentist, had gone missing from Sydney on March 3 after attending a conference. While Harshanwardhan Reddy in a road accident on March 4, Preethi’s Reddy body with multiple stab injuries stuffed in a suit case was found abandoned later by the New South Wales police.

