B’luru teen neighbour rapes, strangles techie after sexual rejection; Sets flat on fire

In a shocking development, Bengaluru police have arrested an 18-year-old second PU student for the rape and murder of a 34-year-old woman software engineer, whose death was initially believed to be the result of asphyxiation caused by a fire at her rented apartment in Subramanya Layout.

The accused, identified as Karnal Kurai, a native of Kodagu, was living next door to the victim and studying at a private college. Police said he allegedly raped and strangled the woman before attempting to destroy evidence by setting the flat on fire and portraying the crime as a fatal accident.

According to investigators, the incident came to light on the night of January 3, when Fire and Emergency Services received a call around 10.45 pm reporting a blaze on the third floor of the apartment building.

Firefighters and police personnel rushed to the spot, doused the flames, and recovered the charred body of the woman. At that stage, authorities suspected that she had died due to smoke inhalation following a possible short circuit.

The victim, identified as Sharmila DK, hailed from Dakshina Kannada and was employed with a prominent tech company in Bengaluru. She was staying in the apartment with a flatmate, who was out of town at the time of the incident.

However, as the investigation progressed, several inconsistencies raised suspicion. Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) teams found no definitive source of the fire, such as an electrical fault or gas leak. Investigators also noted that the window of the room where the body was found was open, which contradicted the initial theory of death by asphyxiation. 

Further, the body was discovered in the flatmate’s room rather than the victim’s own bedroom.

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Another crucial clue was the disappearance of the victim’s mobile phone. A complaint filed by her friend, who expressed doubts over the circumstances of the death, prompted police to intensify the probe. Technical analysis and mobile phone tracking eventually led investigators to Kurai, who lived in the adjacent house with his mother.

During interrogation, police said Kurai confessed to the crime. He allegedly entered the victim’s flat around 9 pm on January 3 through a sliding window, intending to seek sexual favours. When the woman resisted, he allegedly raped her and then covered her mouth and nose, causing her to lose consciousness. She also sustained bleeding injuries during the struggle.

Fearing he would be caught, the accused allegedly placed the victim’s clothes and other materials on the bed and set them on fire to destroy evidence and make the murder appear accidental. He then fled the scene after taking her mobile phone.

The accused has been booked under Sections 103(1) (murder), 64(2) (rape), 66 (causing death in aggravated sexual assault cases), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). He has been remanded to custody, and further investigation is underway.