Lucknow double murder-suicide: Police probe ₹1 crore divorce settlement row
Synopsis
A Lucknow man allegedly shot his estranged wife outside her bank workplace, killed his sister at home, then died by suicide — and police now say a ₹1 crore divorce settlement demand, heard in court just two days before the killings, may be central to understanding why.
Key Takeaways
Manas Vajpayee , 38 , allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife Divya Mishra outside an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow on 22 August .
He then allegedly returned home and killed his 28-year-old sister, Shiva Vajpayee , before dying by suicide.
Police are probing an alleged demand of ₹1 crore as alimony or divorce settlement, with the case reportedly heard in court two days before the killings.
The couple had been married for 12 years and living separately for over a year ; Divya had reportedly filed for divorce the previous year.
Divya's sister, YouTuber Pragya Mishra , has publicly alleged domestic abuse and raised questions about how Manas obtained the firearms.
Investigators are also examining disputes over the care of Shiva Vajpayee , who reportedly had mental health issues and lived with the couple.
A double murder and suicide in Lucknow has taken a significant investigative turn, with police now scrutinising an alleged financial dispute at the heart of a bitter divorce — including a reported demand of ₹1 crore as part of a settlement between the accused and his estranged wife. The incident, which unfolded on Thursday, 22 August, left three people dead across two locations in the city.
What Happened
Manas Vajpayee, 38, a State Bank of India employee, allegedly called his estranged wife, Divya Mishra, outside her workplace — an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar — where the two reportedly spoke briefly before he allegedly opened fire. Divya was rushed to a hospital but was declared brought dead on arrival.
According to police, Manas then allegedly returned to his residence, where he shot his 28-year-old sister, Shiva Vajpayee, before dying by suicide. Investigators also recovered a WhatsApp status that Manas had reportedly posted before his death, in which he claimed responsibility for the killings and made allegations against his wife.
The Divorce Dispute and Financial Allegations
Police sources say the couple had been married for approximately 12 years but had been living separately for more than a year. Divya had reportedly filed for divorce the previous year, and investigators are examining allegations that she had sought ₹1 crore as alimony or as part of the financial settlement.
Notably, documents related to the divorce proceedings have been recovered and are being scrutinised by the investigating team, according to reports. The divorce case was reportedly heard in a local court two days before the killings, during which the financial settlement issue allegedly came up. Police are examining whether the dispute over this settlement may have contributed to the alleged crime.
The Role of Manas's Sister
Investigators are also looking into a separate but related strain within the household. Shiva Vajpayee, Manas's sister, had been living with the couple and was reportedly dealing with mental health issues. Police are examining whether frequent disagreements between Manas and Divya over Shiva's care and condition had further deteriorated their relationship.
Family Alleges Domestic Abuse
Divya's sister, Pragya Mishra, a well-known YouTuber, has publicly accused Manas of physically abusing Divya during their marriage. In a social media post on Friday, Pragya alleged that Manas would become violent over seemingly minor issues and claimed that Divya had wanted to separate from him because of his allegedly cruel behaviour. Pragya also raised questions about how Manas had obtained the firearms allegedly used in the incident.
What Investigators Are Examining Next
Police confirmed they are continuing to probe the full sequence of events, the origin of the firearms, the financial dispute, and any additional motives behind the killings. The investigation remains active, with multiple threads — domestic discord, financial pressure, and the circumstances surrounding Shiva's death — all under examination. How the case proceeds through the courts is likely to hinge on the documentary evidence recovered from the divorce proceedings.
Point of View
Domestic abuse allegations, and a court system that heard a contested ₹1 crore settlement demand two days before three people died. That the divorce proceedings were still active and contentious at the time of the killings raises uncomfortable questions about whether distress signals were visible and whether any institutional safeguards were in place. The domestic abuse allegations raised by the victim's sister, if corroborated, would also add a pattern-of-violence dimension that courts will need to weigh. What mainstream coverage risks missing is the third victim: Shiva Vajpayee, a woman with reported mental health vulnerabilities who appears to have been caught in a dispute that was never hers.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Lucknow double murder-suicide case?
On 22 August, Manas Vajpayee, a 38-year-old SBI employee, allegedly shot and killed his estranged wife Divya Mishra outside her ICICI Bank workplace in Gomti Nagar, Lucknow. He then allegedly returned home, shot his 28-year-old sister Shiva Vajpayee, and subsequently died by suicide.
What is the ₹1 crore divorce settlement dispute in the Lucknow case?
Police are examining allegations that Divya Mishra had sought ₹1 crore as alimony or financial settlement as part of ongoing divorce proceedings. The case was reportedly heard in a local court two days before the killings, during which the financial dispute allegedly came up.
Why was Manas Vajpayee's sister, Shiva, also killed?
Police are still investigating the exact motive. Shiva Vajpayee, 28, was reportedly living with the couple and had mental health issues. Investigators are examining whether frequent disagreements between Manas and Divya over Shiva's care had contributed to tensions in the household.
What has the victim's family said about the case?
Divya's sister, YouTuber Pragya Mishra, alleged in a social media post on Friday that Manas had physically abused Divya during their marriage and that Divya had sought separation due to his allegedly cruel behaviour. Pragya also questioned how Manas had obtained the firearms used in the incident.
What are police investigating now?
Investigators are examining the divorce documents recovered from the case, the origin of the firearms, the sequence of events on the day of the killings, and whether the financial dispute or domestic tensions were the primary motive. The probe is ongoing.
