Archive · 20 Aug 2026
Lucknow Bank Employee Allegedly Kills Wife, Sister, Then Himself
A bank employee in Lucknow allegedly shot his wife outside the bank where she worked.
The couple had reportedly been living separately for more than a year.
His wife had also reportedly sought a divorce.
Police say he then went home and shot his sister.
He later died by suicide.
A WhatsApp message allegedly written by him blamed his wife for cheating.
The message also mentioned his sister and his wife’s sister, Pragya Mishra.
Police are checking whether the message is genuine and are investigating what led to the shootings.
Manas Vajpayee, an SBI employee, allegedly shot his estranged wife Divya Mishra outside her ICICI Bank workplace in Lucknow on Thursday.
Police said Divya, 36, was declared dead after being taken to hospital; one report identified the accused as 38.
The accused allegedly returned home and shot his sister, identified in reports as Shiva or Sheeba Vajpayee, before dying by suicide.
An alleged WhatsApp status accused Divya of cheating and said Manas planned to kill himself and his sister; its authenticity has not been independently verified.
Police and forensic teams are examining CCTV footage, call records, digital evidence and the couple’s marital dispute.
- Who
- SBI employee Manas Vajpayee, his wife Divya Mishra and his sister, identified in reports as Shiva or Sheeba Vajpayee, were involved; journalist Pragya Mishra is Divya’s sister.
- What
- Manas allegedly shot Divya outside her workplace, shot his sister at home and then died by suicide.
- When
- The incident occurred on Thursday, with the shooting outside the bank reported around noon; he reportedly returned home around 12:30 p.m.
- Where
- The first shooting took place outside an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow; the later shooting occurred at his home in or near Husaria.
- Why
- Police are investigating the marital dispute; an alleged WhatsApp status claimed Divya had cheated on him, but that claim and the status’s authenticity have not been independently verified.
Accused’s Alleged Claim
Police Investigation
Motive
Accused’s Alleged Claim
The alleged WhatsApp status accused Divya of cheating and presented that as the reason for the shooting.
Police Investigation
Police are investigating the couple’s marital dispute; the cheating allegation has not been independently established.
WhatsApp message
Accused’s Alleged Claim
The message reportedly claimed that Manas had killed his wife and intended to kill himself and his sister, while also mentioning Pragya Mishra and Bharat.
Police Investigation
Authorities are examining the digital evidence, and the status’s authenticity and the circumstances in which it was posted have not been independently verified.
- Accused
- Manas Vajpayee, reported as an employee of the State Bank of India
- Wife
- Divya Mishra, an ICICI Bank relationship manager or assistant manager
- First shooting
- Outside an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow
- Reported timeline
- Thursday around noon; the accused reportedly reached home around 12:30 p.m.
- Family dispute
- The couple had reportedly lived separately for more than a year, and Divya had reportedly sought a divorce
- WhatsApp status
- An alleged message accused Divya of cheating and mentioned plans to kill himself and his sister
- Investigation
- Police are examining CCTV footage, call records, forensic evidence and the alleged WhatsApp status
