In Hyderabad, Telangana, India, a systemic attempt to wipe out the wealthy Rao family using slow arsenic poisoning resulted in the death of mother-in-law Uma Rao and severe illness across multiple family members. Investigations revealed that the plot was masterminded from London by Ajit, the estranged ex-husband of Dr. M. Shirisha. Motivated by intense jealousy and resentment following their separation, Ajit collaborated with his sister Salla Devi (who procured arsenic from a government research institute) and an upstairs relative seeking property gain. Ajit hired 19 contract killers and paid delivery workers to tamper with food items and spice containers (salt, turmeric, chili, coriander) inside the family kitchen. Following lab analysis by neurologist Dr. Rama Thararaknath Vemumuri and persistent investigation by Dr. Shirisha, Hyderabad Police uncovered the conspiracy, arrested 19 accomplices, and secured Ajit's arrest in London via international legal coordination.
Country: India
State/Province: Telangana, India
City/Region: Hyderabad
Incident Type: Domestic Violence Homicide
Relationship Status: Separated
Relationship Duration: Approximately 4 years
Incident Date: June 7, 2023
Relationship Origins:
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How the relationship or connection began.
Approximately 4 years
Important relationship phases recorded for this case.
Reported red flags or early concern points.
Contributing factors and possible motives from the available sources.
2023-06-07
Recorded relationship or case outcome.
English labels are shown first. Original-language titles are preserved for source verification.
Domestic Violence
The relationship pattern exhibits an extreme domestic violence escalation following marital separation. After Dr. M. Shirisha separated from Ajit in August 2022 due to physical abuse, verbal degradation, and threats against her daughter, Ajit transitioned from domestic abuse to cross-border stalking and murder conspiracy. Unable to accept her independence and career success, he orchestrated multi-tiered elimination schemes—ranging from vehicular hit attempts to food supply contamination—targeting his ex-wife's entire immediate family.
The investigation was conducted by the Hyderabad Police in coordination with international law enforcement agencies. Police uncovered a network of 19 hired individuals including local handler Vinod Kumar and an upstairs relative who acted as an insider. Arsenic testing confirmed extreme toxic levels across family members, directly linking the chemical supply to Ajit's sister, Salla Devi. A Red Corner Notice was issued, leading to Ajit's arrest by London police, with extradition proceedings pending in British courts.
Initially, the family and local doctors suspected acute food allergies, digestive distress, or routine gastric illnesses when multiple family members experienced sudden vomiting, throat irritation, and rapid weight loss. The source of toxicity remained baffling because delivered grocery items and spice containers arrived factory-sealed. Misdirection was further heightened by hitmen posing as distant relatives or Vaastu consultants visiting the residence under false pretenses.
The case understanding was formed when Dr. M. Shirisha collected household food and water samples for lab testing after her mother-in-law, Uma Rao, died from respiratory failure caused by lung complications. Neurologist Dr. Rama Thararaknath Vemumuri diagnosed heavy arsenic poisoning in surviving family members. Police investigations traced the breach to online food delivery agents bribed by Ajit's operatives to tamper with spice packets, guided by live intelligence from a relative living in the apartment unit directly above the victims.
The perpetrator demonstrated extreme lethality risk, high fixated threat, persistent premeditation, and multi-jurisdictional operational reach. By utilizing remote coordination from London, recruiting 19 local co-conspirators, exploiting family insider intelligence, and deploying slow chemical poisoning via domestic spice supplies, the offender displayed an extraordinary level of determination to execute a mass family homicide.
This case highlights the catastrophic escalation potential of abusive former partners operating across international borders. Key warning signs included prior domestic battery, surveillance installation, explicitly uttered child murder threats, and abusive behavior during marital separation. Legally, it demonstrates the vital importance of medical toxicity screening in cases of unexplained cluster illnesses within a single household.
Early warning signals included Ajit's physical abuse toward Dr. Shirisha, installing surveillance cameras to monitor her movements, strangulation threats directed at her young daughter, and persistent phone harassment following their move to London.
Key clues included unexplained weight loss of 10 to 15 kilograms across all family members, symptoms worsening strictly after consuming home-cooked meals while improving on outside hospital food, and suspicious visits by fake relatives claiming house Vaastu flaws.
Strongest evidence types included toxicological blood tests revealing toxic arsenic levels (exceeding 1,000 µg/L in Hanumanth Rao), confessions from hired hitmen, intercepted delivery agent bribery payments, and chemical tracing back to the research center where Ajit's sister worked.
Hanumanth Rao reported that two men with bandaged legs entered his home claiming to be distant relatives of his new daughter-in-law Shashirekha, but continuously deflected questions about her and insisted on changing the house Vaastu, prompting him to shout and kick them out. Hired hitmen admitted to receiving direct instructions and funds from London-based Ajit.
Follow-up medical and police investigations changed the initial belief of routine food poisoning to a premeditated homicidal conspiracy using arsenic powder injected into sealed kitchen spice containers.
Unresolved matters include the final legal outcome of extradition proceedings in London courts regarding Ajit's return to India, and whether additional untraced accomplices assisted in the logistics.