Hyderabad murder case exposes organised domestic help gangs with Nepal links

The murder of Tanuja Ranjan in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills has intensified scrutiny of suspected organised domestic help gangs linked to Nepal. Investigators believe the crime may be part of a wider syndicate targeting affluent households across major Indian cities for theft, robbery, and murder.

Hyderabad: The recent brutal murder of Tanuja Ranjan, wife of retired IPS officer Vinay Ranjan, at their residence in Prashasan Nagar in Jubilee Hills, has yet again exposed the growing network of organised domestic help gangs from Nepal, operating and gaining their ground in Hyderabad and cities across the country.

Investigators suspect that the crimes may not be isolated incidents, but part of a larger criminal syndicate with links extending from Hyderabad to Nepal.

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Police suspect several gang handlers, who were earlier involved in similar crimes in Hyderabad and other metropolitan cities and later fled to Nepal using illegal channels, are now allegedly building fresh networks by recruiting trusted associates.

These operatives, police suspect, are reportedly being sent to cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and Bengaluru under the guise of housemaids, caretakers and domestic workers.

Officials also believe women are playing a key role in identifying affluent households and execution of the burglaries or murders for gain. By gaining the confidence of families and securing long-term employment, they allegedly gather information about the routine of employers, valuables, and security arrangements. Once access inside the house is established, more associates are gradually introduced into the network.

Police suspect these gangs operate in a highly coordinated manner. After executing thefts, robberies, or even violent crimes, members quickly flee towards the Uttar Pradesh-Bihar border area, where travel agents allegedly help them cross into Nepal to evade arrest.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Police teams probing the case are also examining whether similar gangs were involved in earlier crimes reported in such elite neighbourhoods.