Police Close In on Tanuja Killers

Hyderabad:Special teams of city police probing the murder of Tanuja, wife of retired IPS officer Vinay Ranjan Ray, arrested Sunil Pariyar in Mumbai, a key receiver and aide of domestic help Dharma, the Nepali name of prime suspect Kalpana. Three suspects of Nepali origin were also brought to the city for questioning, though Pariyar’s arrest is yet to be formally announced.

Combined investigations by special teams comprising Central Crime Station (CCS) and task force units in Mumbai were ongoing, sources said. The teams identified two of Dharma’s associates as Suresh Shahi, and Ganesh Shahi, all from Nepal.

So far, seven gang members have been identified as aides of Dharma, who murdered Tanuja on May 8 and fled with 22 tolas of gold and cash from the second floor of her house in Prashasannagar, Jubilee Hills. They boarded the Telangana Express, split up en route and headed in different routes.

Dharma, Suresh, and Ganesh did not carry phones, creating hurdles in gathering technical evidence. “We have been using human intelligence. The investigation has become much easier as we obtained strong evidence against the accused after the arrest of receiver Sunil,” a police officer disclosed.

Since other stolen property — reportedly cash and jewellery — was with Kalpana, the estimate of the loot can be determined only after her arrest. “Very soon she will be traced. Our teams are sure that once she is caught, the whole mystery will be solved,” police said.