Overview
- Police arrested an 18-year-old neighbor on January 10 and a court remanded him to three days of custody.
- An autopsy found the 34-year-old software engineer died of suffocation as scene-of-crime analysis pointed to arson rather than an electrical short.
- Investigators say the suspect entered through a sliding window, demanded sexual cooperation, smothered the victim when she resisted, then set a fire to destroy evidence.
- The accused has been booked under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including provisions for murder, rape, causing death with injury, and destruction of evidence.
- A friend’s doubts triggered the criminal probe, and Forensic Science Laboratory teams provided technical evidence that guided the arrest; the investigation continues.