Avinash Narne, a 30-year-old Indian engineer living in the United States, has been charged with the murder of his wife, 27-year-old Raajitha Sabbineni. The alleged crime took place in their Washington apartment in October 2025, just four months after their marriage. According to US court documents, Narne is accused of strangling Sabbineni and then sending a photograph of her body to his mistress in India.
Final Texts Reveal Suspicion
In the days leading up to her death, Sabbineni had repeatedly complained to her husband that the drinks he prepared for her tasted unusually bitter. On the day of her death, she sent a chilling final text message to Narne, warning him that a smoothie he had mixed for her tasted like "medicine" and "cough syrup." Hours later, she was found dead.
Staged Crime Scene
On October 27, 2025, Narne called emergency services, claiming he had returned home from running errands to find their apartment door locked and his wife unresponsive in the bathroom. When emergency crews arrived, they forced open the locked bathroom door and discovered Sabbineni lying motionless on the floor. She was declared dead at the scene despite first responders' efforts.
An autopsy later revealed that Sabbineni did not die from a medical episode but from asphyxia caused by manual strangulation. This finding prompted authorities to launch a full homicide investigation.
Digital Trail Leads to Mistress
Following a nine-month digital and financial investigation, police uncovered evidence of a secret romantic relationship between Narne and another woman in India. Court documents allege that Narne spoke to his mistress four times on the day of the murder and remained in contact with her afterward. Shortly after the killing, he allegedly took a photograph of Sabbineni's body and sent it to his lover.
"Bellevue Police launched an investigation with detectives determining the female's death appeared suspicious," a police spokesperson confirmed.
Arrest and Charges
Narne has been arrested and is currently held on a $5 million (£3.9 million) bond. If convicted of murder under Washington state law, he faces life imprisonment.
