The murder case of a 34-year-old woman software professional has seen new developments, as the police suspect that the accused sexually assaulted her before killing her. The incident occurred on January 3 under the Ramamurthynagar police station limits in Bengaluru. The accused, identified as 18-year-old Karnal Kunal K, allegedly smothered the victim to death and set fire to her flat to hide the crime.
Police investigations suggest that the accused may have sexually assaulted the woman before her death. Charges under sections 64(2) (rape), 103 (murder), and 238 (causing disappearance of evidence of offence) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been pressed. This incident has sparked concerns regarding the safety of women in the city.
On the night of January 3, the accused reportedly entered the victim’s house, attempted to rape her, and then smothered her when she resisted. Initially, it was thought that the woman died due to a fire caused by an electrical fault, but later examinations revealed it to be a case of murder. The accused, who lived in the same building as the victim, has been arrested and is in police custody.
The accused has allegedly admitted to rendering the victim unconscious by blocking her nose and mouth after she rejected his advances. He then set fire to her clothes, which he had removed, and fled the scene. The police are awaiting the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report as the investigation continues. The accused is currently held in judicial custody pending further inquiries.
