Ex-Andhra DGP’s Wife Tanuja Ray Murdered in Hyderabad Home; Domestic Help Suspected

The wife of former Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police Vinay Ranjan Ray was found dead at the family’s residence in Prashasan Nagar in Hyderabad’s upscale Jubilee Hills area, triggering a major police investigation and raising fresh concerns over security in one of the city’s most protected neighbourhoods. According to police officials, 55-year-old Tanuja Ray was discovered dead on the first floor of the house on Friday morning while other family members were reportedly asleep on the third floor of the residence.

Investigators said former DGP Vinay Ranjan Ray was away on a two-day trip at the time of the incident. Police suspect that a recently hired live-in domestic worker identified as Kalpana may have played a key role in facilitating the crime. Senior officers believe the woman allegedly allowed three unidentified men into the house through a back entrance that was not monitored by CCTV cameras. Authorities said the suspected entry took place around 2 am on Friday.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V C Sajjanar, who visited the crime scene along with senior officers, stated that investigators suspect links to a Nepal-based criminal network that allegedly targets homes using insider assistance from domestic workers. According to the police, such gangs are known to identify vulnerable situations where elderly residents are alone or family members are away before carrying out robberies and attacks. Officials suspect the accused individuals smothered Tanuja Ray while she was asleep before fleeing with valuables from the residence.

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Police said family members sleeping on the upper floor remained unaware of the incident until morning, when they found Tanuja Ray unresponsive and alerted authorities. Investigators are currently assessing the extent of valuables missing from the house and are expected to gather further details after the former DGP returns. The domestic worker Kalpana has reportedly been missing since the incident, further intensifying suspicion around her involvement in the case.

Prashasan Nagar in Jubilee Hills is considered one of Hyderabad’s most secure residential areas and houses several senior bureaucrats, political leaders, and retired officers. The incident has shocked residents and prompted questions about security protocols even in high-profile neighbourhoods. Senior Telangana police officials, including DGP C V Anand and Additional DGP Mahesh Bhagwat, visited the residence as part of the ongoing investigation and reviewed preliminary findings with local officers.

Police have launched a statewide manhunt to trace the suspects and have also alerted neighbouring states as well as Bihar and Uttar Pradesh due to their proximity to the Nepal border. Surveillance teams and special investigation units are examining CCTV footage from surrounding areas and gathering information about the domestic worker’s background and recent movements. Authorities said the investigation remains active and multiple teams are working to identify and apprehend all those involved in the crime.

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