The wife of former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan, was found dead at their residence in Prashasan Nagar, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad, on Friday (May 8, 2026). Preliminary investigation suggest robbery as the possible motive behind the murder. Prashasan Nagar is an upscale locality with several serving and former bureaucrats living in the area.

The deceased was identified as 55-year-old Tanuja Ranjan. Police suspect the involvement of a domestic help in the crime, while initial findings also indicate possible involvement of a gang.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said the incident occurred at around 2 a.m. and preliminary investigation pointed to the involvement of a gang from Nepal. He said investigators had gathered crucial clues and were working to trace those involved. “Such gangs are not confined to Hyderabad and similar cases have been reported in other metro cities as well. They usually strike when family members are away,” he said.

The Commissioner said Mr. Vinay Ranjan was travelling at the time of the incident, while the couple’s children were asleep upstairs and remained unaware of what had happened on the ground floor. Preliminary findings suggest that the gang gained entry into the house with the alleged assistance of a woman domestic help. The victim was allegedly gagged and tied up, leading to death by suffocation.

Mr. Sajjanar urged the public to exercise caution while hiring domestic workers and stressed the importance of proper background verification. He said CCTV footage from the area was being examined, while police were still ascertaining the items missing from the house.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar speaking to media on May 7, 2026
| Video Credit:
BY ARRANGEMENT

The police said teams have been deployed to trace the accused and examine all possible leads, including the suspected role of persons known to the family. The body was shifted for post-mortem examination, and further details are awaited as the investigation is under way.

Police personnel outside the residence of former IPS officer Vinay Ranjan in Jubilee Hills after his wife Tanuja Ranjan was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Friday (May 8, 2026)
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SIDDHANT THAKUR