LUCKNOW, Aug. 23 -- The auto-rickshaw driver, who ended up driving SBI field officer Manas Bajpai away from the crime scene after he shot his wife Divya Mishra dead outside an ICICI Bank branch in Gomti Nagar on Thursday afternoon, was no stranger to him. Police officers questioning him told HT the driver had known Manas for some time. They said he had been hired by him earlier and was often called to drive him to office despite Manas owning a Bullet motorcycle.

The details emerged during hours of questioning of the driver by the police, giving investigators a clearer picture of why Manas chose the same auto-rickshaw on the day of the shooting.

According to police, Manas booked the auto-rickshaw operated by the driver, Pramod Kumar, 40,...