A high-speed Lamborghini crash in Kanpur has pushed Shivam Mishra, a young tobacco industry executive from a well-known business family, into public view. While the accident left several people injured, it has also revived interest in Mishra’s background, his role in the family enterprise and earlier controversies linked to the group.
Police said the luxury car struck pedestrians on VIP Road on Sunday. Several people were injured. Investigators are examining the vehicle’s speed, the sequence of impact and whether alcohol was involved. The damaged car has been taken into custody, and witness statements are being recorded.
According to eyewitnesses, the car allegedly hit a motorcycle and then an auto-rickshaw. Bystanders assisted the injured until emergency services arrived. Officials say further action will depend on medical and forensic reports.
Yet, as details of the crash emerged, attention quickly shifted to the driver and the business family he belongs to.
A legacy tobacco business
Shivam Mishra is the son of K.K. Mishra, who heads the Kanpur-based Banshidhar Tobacco Group. The firm is considered one of the older industrial establishments in the city, with a history stretching back nearly nine decades.
The group supplies raw tobacco to several large pan masala and tobacco brands. Though rooted in Uttar Pradesh, its operations and trading links extend to Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and other parts of the country.
Within this set-up, Shivam Mishra is seen as part of the new generation managing the enterprise. Company sources and business associates describe him as being involved in operational decisions, expansion plans and supply chain oversight.
Fame or infamy? Mishras’ tax evasion grabbed headlines
The family drew nationwide attention in March 2024 when the Income Tax Department conducted searches at more than 20 premises linked to the group and its promoters across several States.
Officials then reported the recovery of large amounts of cash, documents relating to luxury vehicles and high-value watches from locations associated with the family, including a Delhi residence connected to Shivam Mishra. Investigators spoke of suspected tax irregularities and undisclosed assets. No direct charges against him were publicly established at that stage.
One episode during the searches attracted particular notice. Officials alleged that a licensed firearm at a Delhi premises was briefly pointed in their direction before identities were clarified and the situation was settled. The matter added to the public scrutiny around the family.
Reclusive prodigal son with a taste for supercars and luxuries
Shivam Mishra is also known among peers for an interest in expensive cars and luxury goods. Media reports and social media posts have linked him to vehicles such as Rolls-Royce, Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren and Porsche, as well as premium watches and jewellery.
Such displays of wealth have often drawn curiosity, but the recent crash has cast them in a harsher light, raising questions about responsibility and conduct.
Kanpur Lamborghini crash renews scrutiny
The Kanpur accident has again put Shivam Mishra and the Banshidhar Tobacco Group under discussion, this time in the context of road safety and accountability. Questions were also raised locally after initial reports did not clearly identify the driver in the FIR, though police say they are following procedures.
For now, the legal process is underway. Whether the episode remains a traffic case or grows into a larger public debate may depend on what the investigation ultimately reveals. What is clear is that a businessman’s son who largely operated outside public attention now finds his name widely known beyond trade circles.