The Central Bureau of Investigation headquarters in India. ARCHIVE

Seventeen years after the fatal stabbing of an Indian expat in Abu Dhabi, India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has officially charged the suspect in a case sparked by a dispute over a Dh300 unpaid phone bill. The CBI confirmed in a June 27 update that it has filed a charge sheet against Inder Jit Singh under the Indian Penal Code for the 2008 murder of Indian national Rama Lingam Natesan. According to the CBI, Natesan, who sold international SIM cards on credit, had repeatedly asked Singh to settle his Dh300 balance. After Natesan approached Singh’s employer to deduct the amount from his salary, Singh allegedly planned the murder. The crime occurred on August 28, 2008, when Singh reportedly stabbed Natesan with a sharp knife, leading to his death. The CBI said it collaborated with UAE authorities and India's Ministry of External Affairs to gather admissible evidence. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs granted sanction to proceed with prosecution in a special court in New Delhi. In a separate case, the CBI also charged Indian national Subhash Chander Mahla with the 2011 murder of his employer in Bahrain. Mahla, who worked as a driver, allegedly attacked his boss with a blunt instrument over mistreatment. He faces charges under India's laws. “These prosecutions reflect the CBI’s commitment to holding Indian nationals accountable for crimes committed overseas,” the agency said. ICA/Expat Media
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