Maninder Pal Singh Kohli, prime suspect in the rape and murder of British teenager Hannah Foster, has found an ally in his father Jagjit Singh.

Jagjit said on Thursday that his son, who confessed the crime, was under "tremendous pressure".

"The whole media and police are looking at him as if he is the real culprit even though he has not been tried in court as yet," Jagjit said in Patiala.

He said his family was facing other problems as his other two sons -- Ishtpreet and Amritpal -- were also in police custody on the charge of helping Maninder with money and information.

"It is really unfortunate that my younger son Ishtpreet has been arrested. He used to nurse his mother, who is in coma for the past two years," Jagjit said, adding that calling for a doctor every alternate day "is out of my budget".

Maninder had fled Britain after allegedly committing the crime in 2003 and was arrested in Kalimpong, West Bengal, on July 16, 2004 after his pictures were flashed on television.

On July 27 his two brothers were also held.