Bengaluru Techie’s Death Reclassified as Murder After Forensic Breakthrough

The death of a 34-year-old software professional in east Bengaluru has taken a grim turn, with police now confirming that the case is one of murder and not suicide as initially believed. Investigators say the woman, identified as Sharmila, was strangled inside her apartment before the flat was deliberately set on fire to destroy evidence.

The incident came to light on January 3 at a residential building in Subramanya Layout, Ramamurthy Nagar. Residents alerted authorities after smoke was seen billowing from Sharmila's rented apartment. Firefighters later recovered her body from inside the smoke-filled flat, and early assessments suggested she may have died due to suffocation caused by the blaze.

That theory collapsed after forensic experts detected injuries consistent with strangulation. The post-mortem confirmed that Sharmila had died before the fire broke out, prompting police to reclassify the case as homicide and launch a full-scale murder investigation.

Police have arrested an 18-year-old youth, Krishnayya, who lived in the building opposite Sharmila's residence. According to investigators, the accused allegedly entered the flat late at night through a balcony window. Officers believe he confronted Sharmila inside the apartment, leading to a physical altercation.

During the struggle, police said Sharmila attempted to resist, following which the accused allegedly struck her neck and later strangled her. Investigators described the suspect's interest in Sharmila as obsessive and unreciprocated, noting that while the two were acquainted, there was no relationship between them.

After the killing, police believe the accused set fire to the bedroom in an attempt to stage the death as accidental or self-inflicted. The fire spread rapidly, damaging much of the flat and initially misleading investigators about the cause of death.

Authorities said the accused's proximity to the victim's home allowed him to closely track her movements. Police are now verifying his background, including his claim of being a pre-university student from Kerala, and examining surveillance footage to piece together his actions on the night of the crime.

The accused has been remanded to police custody, and forensic teams continue to analyse evidence recovered from the burnt apartment. Investigators said further findings will help establish the sequence of events and strengthen the case as it moves forward under murder charges.