A Korean student who allegedly stabbed his Indian-origin roommate to death in their dormitory at the
prestigious Purdue University has said he was “very sorry” for killing his friend but contended that he
had been “blackmailed”, according to a media report.
Varun Manish Chheda, 20, from Indianapolis, was found dead in McCutcheon Hall on the western edge
of the campus last Wednesday.
Ji Min “Jimmy” Sha, a junior cybersecurity major and international student from Korea was arrested in
connection with the murder.
Sha, 22, made his first court appearance on Friday before Tippecanoe County Magistrate Sarah Wyatt
since being arrested for allegedly stabbing Chheda to death.
Varun Manish Chheda, 20, from Indianapolis, was found dead in McCutcheon Hall on the western edge
of the campus last Wednesday.
Ji Min “Jimmy” Sha, a junior cybersecurity major and international student from Korea was arrested in
connection with the murder.
Sha, 22, made his first court appearance on Friday before Tippecanoe County Magistrate Sarah Wyatt
since being arrested for allegedly stabbing Chheda to death.
“I was blackmailed,” the suspect said when asked about a motive for the crime. He did not elaborate,
WLFI, a television station in Indiana, reported.
When asked if he had anything to say to the victim’s family, Sha replied: “I am very sorry.”
Last week, Sha appeared to mutter “I love my family” as he was hauled to jail for allegedly killing
Chheda, a senior data science major who the Tippecanoe County coroner said died of “multiple sharp-
force traumatic injuries.”
Sha called the police about 12:45 a.m. Wednesday to say he had fatally stabbed his roommate in their
room at McCutcheon Hall.
Source: The Hindu
