In a shocking incident in Gurugram’s upscale Sushant Lok area, 25-year-old tennis player Radhika Yadav was shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, on Thursday morning. The case has left the nation stunned, raising questions about family pressures, control, and emotional turmoil.
What Happened Inside Radhika Yadav’s Home?
It was a quiet Thursday morning in Gurugram’s posh Sushant Lok area. Inside the two-storey house, Radhika Yadav, a 25-year-old national-level tennis player, had just started preparing breakfast. The clock was nearing 10:30 AM.
Unaware of what was to come, she stood in the kitchen, perhaps planning her day ahead, thinking about her tennis academy, or upcoming tournaments.
But in the next few moments, everything changed.
Her father, Deepak Yadav (49), walked in with a licensed revolver. 32 bore revolver in hand. Without warning, he fired five rounds directly at his daughter. Three bullets struck her in the back, causing her to collapse in the very space where she had stood moments earlier, cooking.
The gunshots echoed through the house.
Hearing the terrifying noise from downstairs, Radhika’s uncle Kuldeep Yadav and cousin Piyush rushed upstairs. There, in the kitchen, they found Radhika lying in a pool of blood, gravely injured. The weapon was discovered nearby, in the drawing room.
Acting swiftly, they placed her in their car and rushed her to Asia Maringo Hospital in Sector 56. But it was too late. Doctors declared her dead on arrival.
When police arrived at the scene, Deepak Yadav didn’t deny what he had done. He confessed to the murder on the spot and was immediately taken into custody.
Police have begun formal proceedings. Deepak is currently in one-day remand, and investigations are ongoing, including retrieving the firearm’s ammunition and verifying motives.
What led to this horrific act inside a seemingly stable and successful family is still under probe—but what’s certain is this: India has lost a rising tennis star in a moment of unimaginable domestic violence.
Who is Deepak Yadav?
Deepak is not just any father—he is a wealthy landlord in Wazirabad village, owning multiple rental properties across Gurugram. Reports say he earned around ₹15–17 lakh per month from rent alone and also owns a luxurious farmhouse.
A local acquaintance told NDTV, “He is well-connected and rich. No one in the village would say he depended on his daughter’s income.”
What Led to the Crime?
According to police, the father and daughter had frequent arguments over her growing independence, her social media presence, and even a music video she appeared in. Deepak was allegedly uncomfortable with her running her tennis academy in Sector 57, and felt humiliated by villagers who claimed he lived off her success.
However, locals close to the family dispute this motive, saying Deepak had always supported Radhika’s career.
“He spent lakhs on tennis gear and even gave up his education to train her,” a family friend said.
“There may be a personal reason behind this, but not her career.”
Radhika lived with her parents in a two-storey home. Her uncle lived downstairs. When the gunshots were heard, the family rushed upstairs and found her injured in the kitchen. The gun was found in the drawing room.
Police Speak
Inspector Vinod Kumar of Sector 56 Police Station said they have been granted one-day custody of Deepak Yadav. When asked if this could be a case of honour killing or a relationship dispute, police clarified:
“There is nothing like that.”
