The tragic death of tennis player Radhika Yadav has taken a new turn as daily revelations spark speculation and controversy. While her father Deepak Yadav, the prime accused in the case, has been sent to 14-day judicial custody, a close friend of Radhika’s, Himanshika Singh Rajput, shared an emotional video on Instagram claiming that Radhika’s death was the result of a well-planned conspiracy.
To address these serious accusations, Aaj Tak spoke exclusively with Radhika’s brother, Rohit Yadav, who rejected the allegations and presented the family’s side of the story.
‘No Restrictions, No Pressure’ – Rohit Yadav
Responding to Himanshika’s claim that Radhika faced pressure from her family, Rohit said, ‘There are several women in our village who are doctors, engineers, or in government jobs. No one is restricted or controlled here. The things being said in the media are incorrect. If a father sends his daughter abroad to compete in tournaments, he does it with his own money, not with government aid. Radhika’s international travels were all funded by Deepak Yadav himself. If she was truly restricted, how could she enjoy such freedom and mobility?’
Rohit emphasized that the entire matter is a private family issue, and only Radhika or her father could have truly known the internal dynamics. Media narratives, he claimed, are distorting the reality.
Allegations of Restrictions
Dismissing claims that Radhika was not allowed to use the phone or was mentally disturbed, Rohit stated, ‘If there had been such restrictions, how could she have traveled across countries for international tennis tournaments? These claims are baseless. Every family has its ups and downs, but the way these stories are being spun is simply untrue.’
When asked about claims that Radhika was sad and wanted to shift abroad, Rohit countered by saying, ‘Radhika had a mother, cousins, and an entire family. If there was any pressure on her, why wouldn’t she speak to them? Was Himanshika her only friend? My humble request is that people refrain from making hasty statements. Let the truth come out in due course. She had family, and she had support. The media must act with restraint.’
On Question of Love Jihad
Himanshika also raised the controversial issue of ‘love jihad’. Rohit firmly denied any such angle: ‘We are not aware of anything like that. Deepak Yadav and Radhika are our family members. What happened that day at their home, only Deepak can explain. Only he knows why he took such a drastic step. We request the media to give the family some peace. This has been a huge tragedy for the entire village. It’s a loss for every girl who dreams. The rest of the reasons, only the family knows.’
On Allegations of Village Shaming Over Daughter’s Income
Addressing claims made in the FIR that Deepak Yadav faced taunts from the village for ‘living off his daughter’s income,’ Rohit clarified: ‘This is completely false. All families in our village are well-off. Deepak Yadav’s family lacks nothing. As I said, there are women working as doctors, engineers, and in government roles here. No one insults others like that. These are fabrications based on misinformation.’
As the investigation continues, the Yadav family urges the public and media to refrain from speculation and give them space to grieve. What truly happened between Radhika and her father remains unknown and perhaps, as Rohit says, will only be answered with time.