Teen neighbour kills software engineer after rejection, sets flat ablaze to fake accident

By Sumesh Rajan | January 12, 2026

Bengaluru, Karnataka, INDIA: What was initially believed to be a fatal house fire in east Bengaluru has been revealed as a cold-blooded murder. Police have arrested an 18-year-old student for allegedly killing his 34-year-old neighbour after she rejected his advances and then setting her flat on fire to make the death appear accidental.

The incident occurred on the night of January 3 at a rented apartment in Subramanya Layout, Ramamurthy Nagar.

Fire Raises Initial Alarm

Smoke was noticed emanating from a locked two-bedroom flat at around 10.30 pm, prompting the building owner to alert the fire department. Firefighters broke open the door, extinguished the flames and found Sharmila D.K., a software engineer, lying unconscious near the kitchen. She was rushed to a hospital but was declared brought dead.

At first, investigators suspected death due to smoke inhalation caused by a short circuit, as the fire appeared to have originated in a bedroom that belonged to her roommate, who had been away in Assam since November 2025.

Injuries Point to Foul Play

Doubts arose when police observed injuries on Sharmila’s hands and signs of a struggle inside the flat—findings inconsistent with an accidental fire. A complaint filed by her friend, K Rohit, further strengthened suspicion.

Forensic examination and the post-mortem report later confirmed that Sharmila had died due to suffocation, and that her injuries were inflicted before the fire was set. Investigators concluded that the blaze was deliberately lit to destroy evidence.

Teen Neighbour Arrested

Police arrested Karnal Kurai, 18, a second-year pre-university student who lived next door to the victim with his single mother. He is a native of Virajpet town in Kodagu district. Based on digital and forensic evidence, investigators zeroed in on him.

He was arrested on January 10, produced before a court, and remanded to three days of police custody.

How the Crime Unfolded

According to police, Karnal allegedly entered Sharmila’s flat around 9 pm by opening a sliding window. When confronted, he allegedly expressed sexual intent and demanded that she “cooperate”. When Sharmila resisted and shouted at him to leave, he allegedly held her mouth and nose tightly, causing her to lose consciousness.

During the struggle, she sustained bleeding injuries. Believing her to be dead, the accused allegedly collected clothes and other inflammable materials from the vacant bedroom and set them on fire to destroy evidence. He then fled through the same window, taking Sharmila’s mobile phone with him.

Victim’s Background

Sharmila, originally from Dakshina Kannada district, worked with Accenture and was living alone at the time of the incident in a two-bedroom apartment at Sankalpa Nilaya.

Charges Filed

The accused has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including:

Section 103(1) – punishment for murder

Section 64(2) – punishment for rape

Section 66 – punishment for causing death

Section 238 – causing disappearance of evidence or giving false information to screen an offender

Further investigation is underway.

What began as a routine fire call has now emerged as a chilling case of murder disguised as an accident, sending shockwaves through the locality and underscoring the critical role of forensic evidence in uncovering hidden crimes.