Police personnel outside former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan’s residence in Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad after his wife Tanuja Ranjan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Friday (May 8, 2026) | Photo credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
Former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan’s wife was found dead at their residence in Prashasan Nagar, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad on Friday (May 8, 2026). A preliminary investigation suggests robbery as a possible motive for the murder. Prashasan Nagar is a posh locality with several serving and ex-bureaucrats living in the area.
The deceased has been identified as 55-year-old Tanuja Ranjan. The police suspect that a domestic helper was involved in the crime, while initial findings also indicate the possible involvement of a gang.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar said the incident took place around 2 am and preliminary investigations pointed to the involvement of a gang from Nepal. He said investigators have gathered vital leads and are working to identify those involved. “Such gangs are not limited to Hyderabad and similar cases have been reported in other metro cities as well. They usually attack when family members are away,” he said.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar at former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan’s Jubilee Hills residence after his wife Tanuja Ranjan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Friday (May 8, 2026) | Photo credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
The Commissioner said that Mr Vinay Ranjan was traveling at the time of the incident while the couple’s children were sleeping upstairs and did not know what had happened downstairs. Preliminary findings indicate that the gang entered the house with the alleged assistance of a domestic helper. The victim was allegedly stabbed and tied up, resulting in death by suffocation.
Mr Sajjanar urged the public to exercise caution when hiring domestic workers and stressed the importance of proper background checks. He said CCTV footage from the area was being examined while police were still looking for items missing from the house.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar in media interview May 7, 2026 | Acknowledgments for the video: BY AGREEMENT
Police said teams have been deployed to trace the accused and probe all possible leads, including the suspected role of persons known to the family. The body has been taken for an autopsy and further details are awaited as investigations are ongoing.
Police personnel outside former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan’s Jubilee Hills residence after his wife Tanuja Ranjan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Friday (May 8, 2026) | Video Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
Published – May 8, 2026 12:27 PM IST
