A 34-year-old software engineer was allegedly murdered by her 18-year-old neighbour in Bengaluru after she resisted his sexual advances, police said. The crime initially appeared to be an accidental death caused by a house fire but was later confirmed to be a case of murder.
On 3 January 2026, Sharmila D.K. was found dead inside her apartment. A fire had broken out in the flat, leading police to initially suspect that she had died of suffocation following a short circuit that reportedly originated in her flatmate’s room.
However, suspicion arose after one of Sharmila’s friends questioned the circumstances surrounding her death. Investigators later ruled out a short circuit and concluded that the fire had been deliberately set. Following this, police registered a criminal case and sent the body for a post-mortem examination.
The investigation led police to Karnal Kurai, an 18-year-old resident of the same building. According to police, the accused allegedly entered Sharmila’s apartment at around 9 pm by opening a sliding window.
Police said the accused approached Sharmila and demanded that she cooperate sexually. When she resisted, he allegedly held her mouth and nose tightly, causing her to lose consciousness.
Believing her to be dead, the accused allegedly set fire to the apartment using clothes and other materials in an attempt to destroy evidence. He then fled the scene, taking Sharmila’s mobile phone with him.
Police said the accused has confessed to the crime and is currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are examining forensic and digital evidence to establish the complete sequence of events.
The case has once again raised serious questions about women’s safety, even within residential spaces that are often assumed to be secure.
