A murder case involving a Telugu man living in the United States has taken a significant turn after he formally pleaded not guilty to charges related to the death of his wife.
Avinash Narne, a resident of Bellevue, Washington, appeared before the King County Superior Court on Tuesday for his arraignment, where he denied the murder charge filed against him.
According to prosecutors, Narne is accused of intentionally killing his wife by strangulation inside their Bellevue home in 2025. Investigators further allege that he attempted to stage the crime scene before law enforcement officers arrived, suggesting an effort to mislead the investigation.
The case has drawn attention because Narne had remained out of custody for nearly eight months after the incident. Last week, he voluntarily met with Bellevue detectives, after which authorities arrested him in connection with the case.
Following his arrest, the court ordered that Narne remain in custody at the King County Jail. His bail has been set at $5 million, reflecting the seriousness of the charges.
The criminal proceedings will now move toward trial, which has been scheduled to begin on August 24.
As with any criminal case, the charges against Narne remain allegations at this stage. Under the U.S. legal system, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The upcoming trial is expected to determine whether prosecutors can establish that the killing was premeditated and whether the evidence supports their claim that the crime scene was deliberately staged.
Telugu guy Avinash Narne accused of murdering his 27-yr-old wife Raajitha Sabbineni, has pleaded not guilty.
He is now in Jail on $5 million bail.
Avinash Narne in court
Video courtesy: KING5 Seattle pic.twitter.com/uoRpu8WNNZ
— M9 USA (@M9USA_) July 8, 2026
