Story by Harshit Uttam I Updated : 12 January 2026
Police reported Sunday that an 18-year-old student was arrested for allegedly murdering a 34-year-old software engineer in Bengaluru, initially thought to have died in a fire. The motive cited was her rejection of his advances.
According to police, the accused hails from the locality where Sharmila D Kushalappa lived in her two-bedroom residence.
Sharmila was found dead at her house on January 3 after a fire broke out. Investigators at first suspected she had succumbed to suffocation.
Police filed a case after a friend of Sharmila raised suspicions of foul play. The autopsy indicated suffocation as the cause of death, along with fresh minor injuries on her body.
Police initially believed the blaze was caused by a short-circuit. Subsequent findings revealed that the fire originated from the victim’s flatmate’s room.
Police confirmed the fire was deliberately set and, during their search of the burnt belongings, Sharmila’s mobile phone was missing. Investigators later found that the suspect had been using her phone, based on technical evidence.
Police stated that the suspect confessed to entering Sharmila’s residence at approximately 9 pm, aware of her flatmate’s absence. He allegedly attempted to force her compliance, and upon resistance, suffocated her. The suspect then placed her clothes and other items on the bed, set them ablaze to conceal evidence, and fled the scene.
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