A week after a 34-year-old software engineer was found dead in her rented apartment in Bengaluru, police investigations have revealed that she was murdered by an 18-year-old neighbour after resisting his sexual advances.
The victim, Sharmila DK (also referred to as Sharmila Kushalappa or Sharmila DK), who worked at Accenture and hailed from Dakshina Kannada (Mangaluru), was discovered dead on January 3. Initially, authorities suspected she died of suffocation due to a fire that broke out in her apartment in Subramanya Layout, Ramamurthy Nagar. Firefighters doused the blaze (reported between 10:15 pm and 10:45 pm), and her charred body was found inside the house. Police registered an Unnatural Death Report under Section 194(3)(iv) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and began probing the incident.
However, suspicions arose after one of Sharmila’s friends expressed doubts about the circumstances in a statement to the police. This prompted further investigation, including a post-mortem examination.
Using scientific methods and technical evidence, investigators zeroed in on the accused — Karnal Kurai (also spelled Karnal Kurai K), an 18-year-old second-year pre-university (PU) student from Virajpet town in Kodagu district (some reports mention a Kerala connection). He lived next door (adjacent house in the same building) with his single mother and had known the victim for some time.
When questioned, Kurai allegedly confessed to the crime. He told police that he entered Sharmila’s house around 9 pm on January 3 through a sliding window (aware that her flatmate/roommate had gone to her home state, Assam). His intention was to seek sexual favours or demand that she “cooperate sexually”.
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When she resisted, he allegedly forcefully covered her mouth and nose tightly until she became semi-conscious or lost consciousness. In the struggle, she sustained bleeding injuries (some reports mention he struck her on the neck or hugged her from behind inappropriately).
Believing her to be dead, the accused went to the vacant bedroom (his roommate's room), collected the victim's clothes and other incriminating materials, placed them on the bedroom mattress, and set them on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and stage the scene as an accidental fire (possibly from a short circuit). He then fled, allegedly stealing Sharmila’s mobile phone.
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Following the confession and supporting evidence (including autopsy findings showing injuries inconsistent with accidental burns and pre-fire suffocation), the accused was arrested on January 10 from his house.
He has been booked under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 103(1) (murder), 64(2) (punishment for rape), 66 (punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence or giving false information to screen offender). Further investigation is ongoing, and he has been remanded to police custody.
This shocking case, initially appearing as a tragic fire accident, highlights the importance of thorough forensic examination and prompt reporting of suspicions in unnatural deaths. Authorities continue to probe all angles.
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