A body flown almost 4,000 miles back to the UK is NOT murdered British businessman Ranjit Singh Power, UK court was told.
The authorities in India repatriated the body thinking it was that of Mr Power, but DNA and dental records carried out in the UK did not match.
Det Con Zahid Ahmed, of West Midlands Police, said that although Mr Power had been officially identified by a close friend from Wolverhampton who flew out to India, DNA from Mr Power's toothbrush and dental records show he had a missing tooth didn't match those on the body.
Mr Power, 55, owned Ramada Park Hotel in Goldthorn Park, Wolverhampton. He had travelled to India on business on May 7 last year and was last seen at the airport in Amritsar the following day.
Det Con Ahmed said that, unusually, there had been no contact with his family on arrival, prompting them to call the Punjab police
Indian taxi driver Sukhdev Singh has been charged with his murder after police said he had confessed to the killing and divers found a body in a canal in Ropar District. He is awaiting trial.
Speaking at the inquest, investigating officer Dc Zahid Ahmed from West Midlands Police said: “A post mortem was conducted and a tooth was noticed where Mr Power didn’t have one.
“A forensic dentist examined the body and the presence of a molar on the body indicated it was not him (Mr Power).
“DNA tests took place and were compared to Mr Power’s toothbrush. The dentist said they were not a match.
“Dental records confirm it is not Mr Power and DNA confirms the body is not related to the family.”
According to the Birmingham Mail, Zafar Siddique from the Black Country Coroner recorded: "It remains unascertained. I can't be clear how he died. He was one of five males pulled from a river in the Punjab. I have to give it an open conclusion. Sadly, that's as far as I can take this. No one is coming forward."
Power was last seen at an airport in Amritsar, Punjab on 8 May 2015. Dc Zahid Ahmed from the West Midlands Police told the inquest that a forensic dentist had examined a molar on the body where Power had not had one. DNA tests were then compared to Power's toothbrush and the dentist confirmed that they were not a match.
