Radhika Yadav Murder Case | A shocking case of familial violence unfolded in Gurugram on Thursday, where 25-year-old national-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, inside their Sector 57 home. According to police, the murder followed months of tension over Radhika’s growing financial independence and her presence in a music video.
Police say Deepak, 49, confessed to the crime and cited pressure from relatives and villagers in Wazirabad — his native village — who allegedly taunted him for relying on his daughter’s earnings. The accused had reportedly urged Radhika multiple times to shut down the tennis academy she ran independently.
On the morning of the incident, Deepak allegedly shot Radhika three times from behind while she was cooking breakfast. Her uncle, Kuldeep Yadav, who lives on the ground floor, rushed upstairs after hearing the gunshots and found her lying in the kitchen. A revolver was recovered from the drawing room. She was taken to Asia Maringo Hospital in Sector 56, where she was declared dead.
Music Video Appearance Reportedly a Trigger for the Shooting
The conflict reportedly intensified after Radhika appeared in a music video titled Karwaan by independent artist INAAM, released a year ago under the LLF Records label. The video shows her in several scenes alongside the artist, which her father allegedly found objectionable.
Sources said Deepak had previously asked his daughter to remove the video from her social media accounts, adding to the strain between them. Investigators believe the video may have been a significant trigger for the shooting, though financial and societal pressures also played a major role.
In his confession, Deepak told police: “When I used to go to Wazirabad village to get milk, people used to taunt me, saying that I live off my daughter’s earnings. Some people even questioned my daughter’s character. I told my daughter to close her tennis academy, but she refused.”
Radhika, who had recently paused her playing career due to a shoulder injury, had focused on coaching young tennis players at her academy. The FIR in the case was filed by her uncle Kuldeep, who also transported her to the hospital.
Deepak Yadav, a former bank employee, used his licensed .32 bore revolver in the crime. His wife, Manju Yadav, was present in the house but did not give a written statement, citing illness.
