A shocking incident unfolded in Gurugram’s Sector 57 on Thursday morning, where 25-year-old national-level tennis player Radhika Yadav was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their family residence.
According to the police, Deepak claimed he had been deeply disturbed by gossip in their village, where people allegedly suggested he was living off his daughter’s income and questioned her character. Despite repeatedly urging Radhika to shut down her tennis academy, which she had established after an injury ended her playing career, she refused.
The incident took place at approximately 10:30 am while Radhika was in the kitchen. Deepak allegedly shot her three times with his licensed .32 bore revolver. She was rushed to Asia Maringo Hospital by her uncle Kuldeep Yadav and cousin Piyush, but doctors declared her dead on arrival.
Radhika had previously competed at the national level and, after a shoulder injury forced her to step away from competitive tennis, she dedicated herself to coaching children through her own academy.
In a complaint filed by Kuldeep, it was stated that Deepak had expressed his disapproval of the academy on numerous occasions. On the day of the incident, Deepak is believed to have approached his daughter while she was cooking and fired multiple rounds from behind. The revolver, containing five spent cartridges and one live round, was later recovered from the drawing room table.
At the time of the shooting, only Radhika, Deepak, and her mother Manju were at home. Manju, who was unwell and lying in her room, said she heard gunshots but was unaware of any major argument between her husband and daughter. She maintained that Radhika had never brought shame to the family and denied knowledge of any serious conflict.
Deepak’s brother and nephew, who live on the ground floor, rushed upstairs after hearing the shots and discovered Radhika bleeding in the kitchen.
The police confirmed that Deepak confessed to the killing during preliminary questioning. Forensic teams collected fingerprints, blood samples, and other evidence from the scene. An FIR has been lodged under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) along with relevant sections of the Arms Act. The investigation is ongoing.