Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of young Indian student

One of two brothers who sparked an interstate manhunt after the fatal stabbing of a young Indian student in Ormond has been charged with his murder.

22-year-old student Navjeet Sandhu was fatally stabbed in Ormond. Picture: Facebook

A man has been charged with murder over the stabbing death of 22-year-old student Navjeet Sandhu.

Robin Gartan, 27, has been charged with murder after allegedly stabbing Mr Sandhu to death at an alcohol-fuelled party in Ormond at the weekend.

His brother, Abhijeet Abhijeet, 26, has been charged with affray.

The pair sparked an interstate police manhunt after they could not be found.

But investigators tracked the pair down in Goulburn, a large country town between Canberra and Sydney earlier this week.

Abhijeet and Gartan fronted the Goulburn Local Court on Thursday morning where their extradition back to Melbourne was granted.

They will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Abhijeet Abhijeet.

Robin Gartan.

Mr Sandhu’s father reportedly sold part of his farm to fund his son’s study trip to Australia about 18 months ago.

The student, from Karnal, north of New Delhi, was due to join his family on holidays in July.

The two brothers wanted over Mr Sandhu’s death were arrested in regional New South Wales on Tuesday.

The Homicide Squad were called to a home on North Rd about 1am on Sunday morning following reports of a dispute.

Two men were found with stab wounds.

Mr Sandhu suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene, while a 30-year-old Noble Park man was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

Forensic investigators probe the scene on North Rd. Picture: David Crosling

Police at the scene in Ormond. Picture: David Crosling

Detective Inspector Dean Thomas from the Homicide Squad said a group of men, including the two suspects, were drinking and partying at the home, where a slew of drunken fights had broken out in the lead-up to the fatal stabbing.

“It’s obviously a violent crime,” he said.

“Whenever knives are used, it’s concerning.”

A fight allegedly broke out inside a home and spilt out on to the street. Picture: David Crosling

Detectives are probing the circumstances leading to the incident. Picture: David Crosling

It is believed tensions had reached boiling point inside the sharehouse, prompting two residents to move out.

One of those residents, the wife of the 30-year-old man, called the victims for help moving out amid the high amount of alcohol being consumed late on Saturday night.

The brothers then allegedly attacked the two men out the front of the house.

The pair then allegedly stole an associate’s car.

Investigators had found a knife believed to have been used in the stabbings, but it is unclear how many weapons were involved.

One of the pair has a bridging visa, while the other was in Australia on a student visa.

Neighbours told the Herald Sun they heard what sounded like two men arguing on the street moments before Mr Sandu was allegedly stabbed in Ormond.

They said loud music had been pumping from the North Rd home on Saturday evening.

Originally published as Man charged with murder over fatal stabbing of young Indian student