Telangana Techie Charged with Wife’s Murder in US, Sent Body Photo to Lover in India: Cops

Telangana Techie Charged with Wife’s Murder in US; Police Allege He Sent Body Photo to Lover in India

A 30-year-old software engineer from Telangana has been charged with the alleged murder of his wife in the United States, nearly nine months after she was found dead in their Washington apartment. Investigators claim he strangled her, staged the scene to appear as an accident, and later sent a photograph of her body to a woman in India with whom he was allegedly in a secret relationship.

The victim, 27-year-old Raajitha Sabbineni, was found dead inside the bathroom of the couple’s Bellevue apartment in October 2025, less than six months after their marriage. Her husband, Avinash Narne, initially told police he had returned home after running errands, found the bathroom locked from inside and alerted authorities when his wife did not respond.

However, an autopsy later concluded that Sabbineni died from asphyxia due to strangulation, and her death was ruled a homicide. Investigators say digital evidence from the apartment’s smart-lock and security systems showed that no one else entered the residence during the period Narne claimed to be away, undermining the possibility of an intruder.

During the investigation, detectives uncovered evidence of an alleged ongoing relationship between Narne and a woman in India that predated his marriage. Prosecutors say the relationship continued after the wedding, and phone records indicate Narne contacted the woman multiple times on the day of his wife’s death. According to court documents, he also admitted to sending her a photograph of Sabbineni’s body the following day.

Investigators also cited messages exchanged between the couple in the weeks before the death. Sabbineni had reportedly complained that drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusually bitter. On the day of her death, she allegedly messaged that a smoothie he made tasted like “medicine” and “cough syrup.” Narne later suggested to responding officers that she may have fallen ill after consuming cough syrup.

After months of reviewing forensic evidence, digital records and witness statements, Bellevue Police arrested Narne. On July 1, prosecutors formally charged him with first-degree murder, alleging the killing was intentional and premeditated.

Narne remains in custody with bail set at USD 5 million (around Rs 48 crore). If convicted, he could face life imprisonment under Washington state law.