US: Indian-origin man admits murdering NRI couple

An Indian-origin man has pleaded guilty to hiring men to murder an NRI couple in Michigan and faces life imprisonment.

Narayan Thadani, 63, and co-defendant Douglas Tabor hired two hit men, Miguel Servando and Nelson Mendoza, to kill Michigan residents Aasha and Brij Chhabra in 2008.

An alleged real estate deal between Thadani and the Chhabras has been cited as reason for the murder.

The couple was found dead by the police in their Michigan home.

Thadani, formerly a Houston resident, pleaded guilty before Chief United States District Judge Gerald Rosen.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, Thadani will be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Thadani was supposed to invest about $2 million on behalf of Aasha. The Chabbras had later sued Thadani, who had not returned about $1.5 million to them.

Servando and Mendoza were charged with 'first degree' murder. Servando pleaded guilty to state and federal charges and is currently serving life sentence.

Mendoza was found guilty after a trial on state charges and has been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Thadani and Tobar are currently in the custody of the US Marshals Service, US Attorney Barbara McQuade said in a statement on Thursday.

Police arrested Servando and Mendoza in 2008 and found a diagram and address of a home in Michigan and copy of a passport picture of a woman in the duo's car.