What looked like an accidental fire was murder: Inside the Ramamurthy Nagar techie case twist

What was first believed to be a mysterious death due to fire has now been confirmed as a cold-blooded murder, with police arresting the victim’s neighbour after cracking the case using mobile phone evidence.

A shocking twist has emerged in the mysterious death of a techie woman in Bengaluru’s Ramamurthy Nagar, with police confirming that the incident was not an accident but a planned murder. The victim, 35-year-old Sharmila, was killed by her neighbour in what investigators say was driven by one-sided love and rejection.

Sharmila, originally from Mangaluru, had been living for the past two years in Subramanya Layout under the Ramamurthy Nagar police limits. She worked as a techie at a private company in the city and stayed in a rented double-bedroom flat along with her friend Shabareen. However, Shabareen had travelled to Delhi for work about 15 days before the incident, leaving Sharmila alone in the apartment.

On the night of January 3, Sharmila returned home as usual and locked both the iron gate and the main door of her flat. Unbeknownst to her, her neighbour, identified as Karnal Kurai, a Kerala native and a science student pursuing PUC, was closely watching her movements. Kurai, who lived in the adjacent flat, was 18 years old, nearly 16 years younger than Sharmila, and had developed a one-sided love for her. Sharmila was unaware of his feelings.

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Police revealed that Kurai entered Sharmila’s flat through the terrace and balcony without her permission. As they were already familiar faces due to living next door, he initially began speaking to her. However, he soon behaved inappropriately, prompting Sharmila to resist and raise her voice. Fearing exposure, Kurai attacked her, assaulted her and eventually smothered her using a pillow, killing her inside the flat. Investigators confirmed that the murder took place in the kitchen area.

In an attempt to destroy evidence, the accused dragged bedding materials, including pillows and bed sheets, into one bedroom, the one usually occupied by Shabareen, and set them on fire. The fire spread rapidly inside that room, creating heavy smoke, while the rest of the house, including the hall and kitchen, remained unaffected.

When thick smoke began billowing from the flat, neighbours tried calling Sharmila. When she did not answer, they contacted Shabareen, who was in Delhi at the time. She immediately alerted friends in Bengaluru, who then informed the police and fire department. By the time emergency services arrived, Sharmila had already died.

Initially, the case appeared puzzling. Though the bedroom was completely gutted by fire, Sharmila’s body showed no burn injuries. Even the clothes she was wearing were untouched by flames. The fire being confined to just one bedroom, especially one that had been vacant for over two weeks, raised serious suspicion. A liquor bottle found in the flat added to the mystery, though there were no signs of a party or gathering that day.

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Police also noted that while the fire was in the bedroom, Sharmila’s body was found in another room. These inconsistencies ruled out a short circuit or accidental fire, prompting a deeper investigation.

Believing he had committed the perfect crime, Kurai continued to live in the neighbouring flat for a week after the murder, pretending to know nothing about the incident. He avoided CCTV cameras, made no phone calls, and believed burning all materials used in the crime had erased every trace.

However, a crucial mistake exposed him. Kurai had taken Sharmila’s mobile phone after the murder. Three days later, he switched it on and inserted his own SIM card. This immediately alerted investigators. Mobile tower dump data showed the phone’s location as the neighbouring flat, and the SIM card was traced directly to Kurai.

Following this breakthrough, Ramamurthy Nagar police detained and questioned him. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime. He has now been arrested and remanded to three days of police custody for further questioning.

The case, once shrouded in mystery with no apparent clues, was finally cracked through technical evidence and sharp observation by investigators.