Police call it a suicide, family members term it a murder
Hyderabad: A 26-year-old woman was found dead in a hotel room at Langer Houz in the early hours of Friday, reportedly following a video call with an associate. While her family alleged she was murdered, police said technical evidence pointed towards suicide and ruled out the presence of the man who had checked in with her at the time of death.
The deceased, Renuka, employed as a dancer at a pub, had separated from her husband after eight years of marriage due to alleged domestic abuse. The couple has two children, presently being looked after by her elder sister.
A source told Deccan Chronicle that Renuka checked into the hotel with Shaik Farooq, with whom she was allegedly in a relationship. Farooq left the room around 10.30 pm, and CCTV footage corroborated that he did not return before the alleged suicide, police said.
Hotel records showed Renuka ordered food at 11.16 pm, and staff members saw her alone when they delivered it. She allegedly died by suicide after midnight.
The source added that Renuka was on a video call with her friend Sathya, during which screenshots were taken showing she was alone in the room. Investigators believed Sathya's statement could provide further clarity on the sequence of events. The victim's family rejected the police findings and accused Farooq of murdering her, and demanded an investigation.
Police were probing whether financial disputes could have contributed to the incident. The source said Renuka had borrowed money from Farooq, and two others identified as Rajesh and Shoaib, and police were examining the possibility that demands for repayment may have caused emotional distress.
A case has been registered under Section 194 of the BNSS for death under suspicious circumstances. Police said they were analysing digital evidence, questioning witnesses and awaiting forensic reports before concluding.
