An Indian engineer has been arrested in the United States in connection with the alleged murder of his wife, nearly nine months after she was found dead inside their apartment in Washington. Investigators say the accused, identified as 30-year-old Avinash Narne from Telangana, is facing homicide charges in the death of his 27-year-old wife, Raajitha Sabbineni.

According to police quoted by Hindustan Times, Sabbineni was killed in October 2025, just a few months after the couple got married and began living together in the US.

Was the murder planned?

Investigators believe Narne strangled his wife and attempted to stage the scene to avoid suspicion. Following months of investigation, authorities said they gathered evidence linking him to the crime.

Local media reports, citing court documents, said police also uncovered evidence that Narne had been in a secret relationship with another woman in India before and after his marriage. Investigators allege that the relationship continued after his wedding and that the murder had been planned.

The couple reportedly married in June 2025 and moved into their Washington apartment the following month.

Avinash Narne in court, in Washington | Image courtesy: X/M9 USA
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Allegedly shared photo with girlfriend

According to documents cited by local media, Narne contacted his alleged girlfriend shortly after Sabbineni’s death. Investigators claim he spoke to her four times on the day of the incident and also sent her a photograph of his wife’s body.

Per HT, police said Narne called emergency services on October 27, 2025, claiming he had returned home after running errands and found his wife locked inside the bathroom, where she was not responding.

When officers reached the apartment and forced open the bathroom door, Sabbineni was found lying on the floor. She was later declared dead.

Investigation points to strangulation

An autopsy concluded that Sabbineni died from asphyxia caused by strangulation, leading police to investigate the case as a homicide, HT reported.

Court documents cited by local reports also stated that Sabbineni had earlier complained that some of the drinks prepared by her husband tasted unusual. On the day she died, she reportedly told Narne that the smoothie he made tasted like “medicine” and “cough syrup”.

Narne has since been arrested and remains in custody on a USD 5 million bond. If convicted under Washington state law, he could face life imprisonment.

FAQs:

Why was the Indian engineer arrested in the US?


Police allege he strangled his wife in October 2025 and later staged the scene to mislead investigators.

What evidence did investigators reportedly find?


According to local reports, investigators found evidence of his alleged relationship with another woman and claimed he sent her a photo of his wife’s body.