Bengaluru: 18-Year-Old Arrested for Murder of Female Engineer After Sexual Demand

Bengaluru, January 12, 2026: Bengaluru police have arrested an 18-year-old man in connection with the murder of a 34-year-old software engineer, Sharmila DK, in Subramanya Layout, Ramamurthy Nagar. The accused allegedly entered the engineer’s rented home, demanded sexual relations, and killed her when she resisted.

Police investigations revealed that Sharmila did not die due to a fire, as initially assumed, but was strangled by the teenager. The accused, a second-year undergraduate student residing nearby, reportedly used a pillow to suffocate her. After the killing, he set fire to parts of the apartment to destroy evidence and fled with Sharmila’s mobile phone.

Investigation Details

Sharmila’s body was discovered on January 3 in her bedroom, where belongings had been partially burned. Initial police reports suggested she had died from smoke inhalation. However, further investigation raised suspicions, and the post-mortem revealed marks of trauma on her hands and body, indicating foul play.

During interrogation, the accused, identified as Karnal Kurai, admitted to entering Sharmila’s house through a sliding window around 9 PM on the night of January 3. He intended to have sexual relations with her, and when she resisted, he forcibly covered her mouth and nose, leading to her death. The struggle caused injuries and bleeding.

Police confirmed that the accused deliberately set fire to Sharmila’s belongings, including her clothes and some bedroom items, to destroy evidence. Based on his confession and corroborating forensic evidence, a murder case has been registered against Karnal Kurai.