Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Evening Digest: Lucknow Crime, Sajjan Kumar, Markets And More
This evening roundup includes several important stories from India and abroad.
In Lucknow, police are investigating a reported case in which a bank employee allegedly killed his estranged wife and sister before dying by suicide.
A WhatsApp message connected to him mentioned the alleged killings, but its authenticity has not been confirmed.
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died after being convicted in important cases related to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
India’s stock-market investor base has grown sharply, reaching 13.37 crore in July 2026.
A Mumbai court also stopped, for now, changes to the reservation of a football ground.
An ex-Meta director accused Instagram of putting growth before child safety, while Meta rejected the allegations.
India defeated Sri Lanka in a Test, and other items covered a film review, a marriage approved by a village panchayat, and a temple visit by Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty.
Police are examining an unverified WhatsApp status allegedly linked to SBI employee Manas Bajpai after a reported Lucknow murder-suicide involving his estranged wife and sister.
Former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar died at 80 after convictions in major 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases, while his Supreme Court challenge remained pending.
India’s registered investor base reached 13.37 crore in July 2026, with Uttar Pradesh leading new registrations and participation expanding beyond western states.
The Bombay High Court paused proposed changes to the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground and concerns over political recommendations in BMC engineer appointments resurfaced.
Other developments included a child-safety dispute involving Instagram, India’s Test win over Sri Lanka, a review of Jason Statham’s Mutiny, and the Murtys’ temple visit.
- Who
- The roundup concerns Manas Bajpai, Divya Mishra, Sajjan Kumar, Mumbai civic authorities, Arturo Bejar, Shubman Gill and other named individuals and institutions.
- What
- It summarizes reported crime, legal developments, market growth, Mumbai civic disputes, political-interference concerns, technology allegations, sports, entertainment and cultural news.
- When
- The items were presented as an evening roundup; several developments were reported on Thursday, and the investor figures refer to July 2026.
- Where
- The events took place or were reported in Lucknow, Delhi, Mumbai, Moradabad, Galle and the United States.
- Why
- The Free Press Journal presented the roundup as a concise guide to the day’s major developments.
Critics’ allegations and concerns
Defenses, denials and legal qualifications
Instagram and child safety
Critics’ allegations and concerns
Arturo Bejar accused Instagram of following a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach toward under-13 users and of prioritizing engagement and growth over safety.
Defenses, denials and legal qualifications
Meta rejected the allegations. The article also notes that Bejar criticized measures including Instagram’s Take a Break feature.
Political influence in BMC appointments
Critics’ allegations and concerns
RTI activist Santosh Daundkar said recommendation letters from politicians raised concerns about political interference in engineer transfers, postings and promotions, and urged a ban on such recommendations.
Defenses, denials and legal qualifications
The roundup reports the existence of the recommendation letters but does not provide responses from the named ministers, MPs, MLAs or the BMC.
Sajjan Kumar’s legal record
Critics’ allegations and concerns
His convictions included a 2018 Delhi High Court life sentence over five killings and a second life sentence in 2025 linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
Defenses, denials and legal qualifications
He was acquitted in two other riot cases in January, while his challenge to the convictions remained pending before the Supreme Court.
- Lucknow case
- An alleged WhatsApp status attributed to SBI employee Manas Bajpai said, “Today I killed my wife”; police are examining the digital evidence, and its authenticity is unverified.
- Sajjan Kumar
- The former Congress MP died aged 80 after receiving life sentences in major 1984 anti-Sikh riots cases; he was acquitted in two other cases in January.
- Investor base
- India’s registered investor base reached 13.37 crore in July 2026, nearly five times its FY19 level.
- Mumbai football ground
- The Bombay High Court directed the BMC not to take further steps to change the reservation of Neville D’Souza Football Ground until further orders.
- BMC appointments
- RTI records showed recommendation letters from ministers, MPs and MLAs concerning BMC engineer transfers, postings and promotions between 2024 and 2026.
- Instagram allegations
- Former Meta engineering director Arturo Bejar told a US federal court that Instagram prioritized engagement and growth over child safety; Meta rejected the allegations.
- Cricket result
- India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test in Galle; Manav Suthar took a 10-wicket match haul and Devdutt Padikkal scored a century.
- Other coverage
- The roundup included a Moradabad marriage receiving village-panchayat approval, a review of Mutiny, and Narayana Murthy and Sudha Murty visiting the Venkateswara Swami Temple.