Bengaluru Techie Murdered, Flat Set Ablaze After Resisting Sexual Favors; Teen Arrested

• Sharmila Kushalappa, a 34-year-old software engineer, was found dead in her East Bengaluru flat after a fire on January 3.
• Initially thought to be a short circuit, forensic examination confirmed she was suffocated, and the fire was set to destroy evidence.
• An 18-year-old PUC student, Kurai, living next door, has been arrested in connection with the murder.
• Kurai allegedly entered her flat, demanded sexual favors, and killed her when she resisted, then set the flat on fire.
• He fled with her mobile phone and has been booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Why It Matters: A Bengaluru techie was murdered and her flat set on fire after resisting sexual favors; a teen neighbor arrested.