Three family members found murdered, missing son under suspicion

 

By Sumesh Rajan | June 3, 2026

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA: Three members of a wealthy family were found murdered inside their home in the South Malaka area of Prayagraj on Tuesday June 2, prompting a major police investigation. The victims have been identified as Virendra Kumar Vaishya (70), his wife Anita Vaishya (65), and their unmarried daughter Meenakshi Vaishya (40).

The bodies were discovered on the second floor of the family's two-storey building under the Kotwali police station limits after shopkeepers on the ground floor alerted police about a foul smell emanating from the locked house. Police broke open the door and found the three bodies inside a room with severe head injuries, indicating a brutal assault.

Investigators suspect foul play and have launched a search for the couple’s elder son, Abhishek Vaishya, who has reportedly been missing for the past four days and whose mobile phone remains switched off. While police have not officially named any accused, Abhishek is being surmised as a key suspect in the case.

In a further twist, the body of an unidentified man, believed to be around 38 years old, was found inside one of the shops on the ground floor of the same building. Police are yet to confirm his identity, though some local residents claimed the deceased may be Abhishek.

During the investigation, police recovered a cardboard sheet from the room carrying a handwritten message that read: “Bunty, Babli and the daughter-in-law killed us.” Authorities are examining the note and other evidence, including CCTV footage and electronic devices, to determine its authenticity and relevance to the crime.

According to local residents, the Vaishya family owned the building and earned rental income from around a dozen shops located on the ground floor. The family’s younger son, Ashwini, is currently lodged in Kaushambi jail in connection with another case.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Maneesh Shandilya confirmed that all three victims had injury marks and that the exact cause and time of death would be established after the postmortem examination. ACP (Law and Order) Ajay Pal Sharma said three police teams have been formed to investigate the murders from all possible angles.

Police said the motive behind the killings remains unclear and that the investigation is ongoing.