In a shocking turn of events, the Bengaluru police have arrested an 18-year-old neighbour for the alleged murder of a woman software engineer, a crime initially believed to be a tragic accident. The arrest comes a week after the victim, Sharmila, was found dead in her apartment following a fire.
From Accident to Murder: How the Case Unfolded
The incident occurred on January 3 in a rented two-bedroom apartment in India's IT capital. Initially, the death of the software engineer was thought to be a result of suffocation from the fire, with no immediate suspicion of foul play. The police registered an FIR based on a complaint from the woman's flatmate, and a post-mortem was conducted as per procedure.
While the post-mortem confirmed death by suffocation, it also revealed fresh minor injuries on her body. This finding, coupled with the police investigation ruling out a short circuit as the cause of the fire, shifted the focus towards a possible crime. "We found that there was an arson," a police officer stated, indicating the fire was deliberately set.
The Crucial Evidence and Confession
The investigation took a decisive turn when police could not locate the victim's mobile phone among the burnt belongings. Technical evidence led them to discover that the teenage neighbour was using the same mobile phone. The accused, an 18-year-old native of Virajpet Town in Kodagu district who lives with his single mother, was taken into custody on Saturday, January 11.
"After we took the suspect into custody, he confessed to his crime," the officer revealed. The suspect detailed that he entered Sharmila's flat around 9 pm on January 3, knowing her flatmate was away. He gained entry through a sliding window and demanded sexual favours. When she resisted, he tightly held her mouth, causing her to lose consciousness.
"The teenager then went to the other room, gathered some clothes and other incriminating evidence, set them on fire, and fled with the mobile phone of the victim," the officer added, describing the attempt to destroy evidence.
Legal Repercussions and Police Custody
The accused was remanded in police custody for three days on Sunday, January 12. He has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including:
- Section 103(1) for murder
- Section 64(2) for rape
- Section 66 for causing death in a vegetative state
- Section 238 for destroying evidence
This case has sent ripples through the local community, highlighting grave concerns about safety and the lengths to which the Bengaluru police went to uncover the truth behind what was first thought to be a simple accident.
