BENGALURU — January 13, 2026

In a chilling turn of events, the Bengaluru police have cracked the case of a suspected fire accident, revealing it to be a cold-blooded murder. An 18-year-old intermediate (PUC) student has been arrested for the brutal killing of Sharmila Kushalappa (34), a software engineer, after she resisted his sexual advances.

The Incident: From Accident to Murder

The tragedy first came to light on January 3, 2026, when a fire broke out in a flat in the Subramanya Layout area, under the Ramamurthynagar Police Station limits. Sharmila, a native of Mangaluru working for a top software firm in Bengaluru, was found unconscious with severe burn injuries. She was rushed to the hospital but was declared brought dead.

Initially, authorities suspected a short circuit or an accidental kitchen fire. However, the post-mortem and forensic reports provided a haunting breakthrough. Doctors confirmed that Sharmila had sustained injuries on her hands and body before the fire started. Most importantly, the cause of death was determined to be asphyxiation (suffocation), indicating she was killed before being burned.

The Investigation: CCTV and Confession

Deepening their probe, the Ramamurthynagar police, led by DCP East, analyzed CCTV footage from the vicinity. The footage showed a young man entering the building and fleeing suspiciously through a window.

Police took two suspects into custody, including the neighbor, Karnal Kurai (18), a second-year PU student originally from Virajpet, Kodagu. During intense interrogation, Kurai confessed to the heinous crime.

The Chilling Sequence of Events

According to police statements, Kurai lived with his mother in the flat adjacent to where Sharmila resided. On the night of January 3, knowing Sharmila’s roommate was away, Kurai allegedly entered her room through a sliding window at approximately 9:00 PM.

• The Confrontation: Kurai reportedly pressured Sharmila to satisfy his sexual desires. When she refused and screamed for help while trying to push him out, he turned violent.

• The Assault: Enraged, the teenager attacked her. During the struggle, he allegedly used a kitchen knife and struck her again when she fell near the stove.

• The Suffocation: To silence her screams, Kurai tightly covered her mouth and nose with a cloth. Sharmila, unable to breathe, lost consciousness and died on the spot.

• The Cover-up: In a calculated attempt to destroy evidence, Kurai removed her blood-stained clothes and set them on fire within the room. As the flames began to engulf the flat, he jumped out through the window and fled back to his residence.

Legal Action

The accused has been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103 (Murder) and Section 238 (Destroying Evidence). He is currently in police custody for further investigation.

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