Hyderabad, October 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Hyderabad Police have arrested four Nepalese nationals, including a domestic worker, in connection with the murder of Tanuja Ranjan, wife of retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Ray Vinay Ranjan, more than five months after she was killed at her residence.
Hyderabad Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar announced the arrests at a press conference on Monday. The arrests followed a five-month investigation spanning several states and areas along the India-Nepal border.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), investigating property offences allegedly committed by Nepali gangs across the three police commissionerates, arrested the four accused near Nampally Railway Station on October 26.
The arrested accused have been identified as Dharma Tiruwa alias Kalpana, 26, a native of Surkhet district in Nepal who worked as a domestic helper at the victim’s residence; Ganesh B.K., also known as Ganesh Bishwakarma and Dinesh Thapa, 31, a labourer who was residing in Pune; Chandra Bahadur Tamang, also known as Ranjeet Thapa, Shanker Chandra Lama and Kancha, 44, a cook whose listed Indian address is in Gurugram, Haryana; and Ganesh Bahadur Shahi, 37, a watchman who was residing in Pune.
Police said two other accused remain absconding and that teams are continuing efforts to trace them. Two other individuals had previously been arrested in connection with the case.
According to the police, the accused entered the victim’s house in Prashasan Nagar during the intervening night of May 7 and 8, restrained her and allegedly smothered her. They reportedly fled with 225 grams of gold jewellery and other valuables.
The investigation revealed that Dharma had arrived in Hyderabad in June 2025 through a relative and started working as a domestic helper at the family’s Jubilee Hills residence for a monthly salary of approximately Rs 20,000.
During her employment, she allegedly remained in contact with Bikas, a Nepalese national based in Pune, who repeatedly enquired about her employer, the household’s assets and the valuables kept inside the house. Police said he eventually proposed a robbery in exchange for a share of the proceeds.
In April 2026, Dharma travelled to Pune to visit her ailing father, where she allegedly came into contact with other members of the group.
Police said that on May 4, after her employer left for Bengaluru, Dharma alerted the alleged gang. According to the investigation, Ganesh Bahadur Shahi, Shanker Chandra Lama and Sunil Pariyar met at Kalamboli in Maharashtra’s Raigad district that day and travelled to Pune in a hired Maruti Ertiga. The following day, they met other alleged accomplices, including Ganesh B.K., before travelling to Hyderabad.
On the morning of May 7, Ganesh B.K. and Suresh Shahi allegedly met Dharma near her workplace, surveyed the premises and discussed how to gain entry into the house.
According to the police account, the group assembled at Ravindra Bar near the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station area on the evening of May 7. It then split into two teams under a plan allegedly devised by Sujan Shahi, also known as Suresh Shahi.
One team, comprising Ganesh B.K., Suresh Shahi and Shanker Lama, was assigned to enter the house and carry out the robbery. The other team, comprising Ganesh Bahadur Shahi, Sunil Pariyar and Netra Shahi, allegedly remained near Nampally Railway Station to act as lookouts.
During the intervening night of May 7 and 8, Dharma allegedly opened the door to allow the others inside. Police said Tanuja woke up during the incident, following which the attackers allegedly gagged and restrained her, causing her death by suffocation.
The accused then allegedly searched the house, broke open cupboards and took gold jewellery and other valuables. After leaving through the rear gate, they travelled to Nampally and joined the alleged lookout team.
Investigators said the group subsequently travelled towards Kazipet, moved into isolated hilly terrain and divided the stolen property into nine equal shares. The members later split into smaller groups, fled towards Nepal and allegedly disposed of the valuables at different locations.
On May 22, Task Force teams arrested Sunil Bahadur Aauji, alias Sunil Pariyar, and an alleged receiver, Dilip Bahadur Mijar, alias Sonar. Police said 26 grams of the stolen property were recovered from them.
The investigation subsequently extended to Bengaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Surat, Patna, Delhi, Lucknow and Uttarakhand. The SIT also conducted field inquiries near the India-Nepal border, gathering intelligence in remote and hilly areas over more than five months.
Police said local informers helped investigators identify the suspects’ alleged hideouts, travel routes, employment details and contacts, eventually leading to Monday’s arrests.
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