Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jan 13: Shocking details have emerged during the investigation into the murder of techie Sharmila at Ramamurthy Nagar, revealing meticulous planning by the accused, identified as Karnel Kurai.
According to the police, the accused had been closely observing Sharmila’s movements for nearly two months. Under the pretext of studying, he would frequently go to the terrace to monitor her routine. He allegedly ensured that Sharmila’s friend was not present before entering the house. Though this was the first time he entered her home, investigators said he had earlier studied the house layout and entry points in detail.
Learnt sliding-window technique in college
Police revealed that the accused had learnt a sliding-window opening technique during his college days. He reportedly practised opening sliding windows in his classroom when books got stuck, mastering the method. He later applied the same technique to Sharmila’s house and had even practised opening the window in advance. Investigators noted that while the accused managed to escape through the window, police initially struggled to open it during the investigation.
Accused was a meritorious student
Investigations into the background of Karnel Kurai revealed that he was a highly intelligent student with no prior record of misconduct in school or college. He had scored 97 percent in SSLC and later joined the PUC science stream. The accused lived with his mother, who is employed in a private company.
Initial suspicion of accidental death
At first, police suspected that Sharmila’s death may have been due to an accident. At the time of the incident, she was in the kitchen boiling milk with the stove switched on. Police said the accused allegedly pushed her from behind, causing the milk to spill and extinguish the flame, while the gas knob remained open. This led investigators to initially believe that a gas leak might have caused the fire and subsequent death.
It was also suspected that Sharmila may have lost consciousness due to gas inhalation and collapsed in the hall while attempting to reach the kitchen. An electrical engineer had also initially supported the gas-leak theory, and police had ruled out foul play at that stage.
Daily tracking of case developments
However, the accused reportedly followed news updates on television and in newspapers every day to track developments in the case, without sharing his anxiety with anyone for nearly a week. Believing he would not be caught, he allegedly inserted his own SIM card into the phone taken from Sharmila’s house.
Caught through mobile phone evidence
During the course of investigation, Ramamurthy Nagar police initially questioned several youths living in the vicinity, suspecting the involvement of locals. Due to the lack of immediate evidence, the probe hit a dead end. Police initially doubted whether an 18-year-old could have killed a 36-year-old woman.
However, crucial mobile phone evidence eventually led to the accused being identified and arrested. Police have taken him into custody for further interrogation. Officials said that more clarity, including whether sexual assault occurred, will emerge after the forensic science laboratory (FSL) report is received.