Indian Techie Arrested in US for Wife's Murder Amid Affair Claims

In a developing story with significant relevance to Indian diaspora in the United States, an Indian software engineer from Telangana, Avinash Narne, 30, has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of his 27-year-old wife, Raajitha Sabbineni. The arrest in Bellevue, Washington state, comes nearly nine months after Raajitha was found dead in the couple's apartment on October 27, 2025. The investigation, led by the Bellevue Police Department, suggests a meticulously planned crime. According to court documents and police reports, Avinash Narne allegedly strangled his wife and then attempted to stage the scene to make it appear as an accidental death. An autopsy conducted by the King County Medical Examiner's Office later confirmed that Raajitha Sabbineni died from asphyxia caused by strangulation, ruling her death a homicide. Key to the police investigation was the discovery of incriminating digital evidence and phone records. Authorities uncovered that Narne was allegedly involved in a long-standing 'secret relationship' with another woman in India, which he maintained even before his arranged marriage to Raajitha on June 5, 2025. Investigators claim that this relationship continued after the marriage, with the woman even attending the couple's wedding. Further evidence emerged from text messages exchanged between Avinash and Raajitha. These messages reportedly show Raajitha complaining repeatedly that drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusually 'bitter' or like 'medicine' and 'cough syrup'. On the very day of her death, she allegedly messaged Narne about a smoothie he made tasting 'like medicine' and 'cough syrup,' a detail that suggests a potential attempt to incapacitate or poison her prior to the strangulation. The prosecution further alleges that Narne remained in close contact with his girlfriend immediately after the incident. Police records indicate he called his girlfriend at least four times on the day of the alleged murder, including around the time he claimed he was attempting to gain access to the locked bathroom where Raajitha's body was found. Most disturbingly, investigators also allege that Avinash Narne sent a photograph of his wife's body to his girlfriend after her death, a detail widely reported across various news outlets. Narne himself had called emergency services on October 27, 2025, claiming he had returned home from errands to find his wife locked inside the bathroom and unresponsive. Responding officers had to force open the bathroom door, where they found Raajitha lying on the floor, pronounced dead at the scene. Following months of extensive investigation, which included piecing together phone records, text messages, and other digital evidence, Narne was formally charged with first-degree murder on July 5, 2026. He was subsequently arrested and is currently being held on a $5 million bail bond. If convicted under Washington state law, Avinash Narne could face life imprisonment. The case has drawn significant attention due to its chilling details, the alleged premeditation, and the involvement of an international element with the accused and victim both being Indian citizens residing in the US. This incident has resonated deeply within the Indian community, both in the US and back in India, raising concerns about marital disputes and their tragic consequences abroad. The swift action of the US law enforcement, coupled with detailed forensic and digital evidence, was instrumental in bringing the charges against Narne after a prolonged investigation.

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