The investigation into the shocking murder of 25-year-old former international tennis player Radhika Yadav, allegedly by her own father, has revealed a disturbing breakdown in their relationship over just 15 days.
What began as a disagreement over a tennis academy she ran near their home in Gurugram’s Sector 57 spiraled into something far more tragic. Deepak Yadav, 49, told investigators he was deeply disturbed by remarks made by acquaintances about Radhika’s “character” and his reliance on her earnings. These taunts, he claimed, caused him humiliation and pushed him into a state of rage, reported The Times Of India.
According to police, Deepak had been repeatedly asking Radhika to shut down the academy for two weeks. He even offered to cover any financial loss. She refused. Three days before the incident, there was a heated argument, during which Deepak allegedly threatened to shoot her—or himself—if she didn’t agree to stop running the academy. She stood her ground again.
Father’s Pride Turned to Poison
Deepak had spent nearly ₹2 crore over the years to support Radhika’s tennis career and accompanied her across India for training and competitions. But that same father, once so proud of her achievements, admitted to shooting her dead on Thursday morning as she was cooking in the kitchen.
According to SHO Vinod Kumar of Sector 56 police station, Deepak appeared to be eccentric and emotionally unstable. “He believed others easily, nursed grudges, and fought with family members. His primary motive for the murder was his desire to shut the academy,” Kumar said.
Sources revealed that Deepak’s emotional state worsened after visiting relatives in Kasan, Manesar, 15 days before the murder. After returning, tensions between him and Radhika reportedly escalated sharply.
Radhika’s mother, Manju, who is unwell, told police that Deepak had long been distrustful—even early in their marriage. She recalled how he objected to her interactions with a male relative, which led to a prolonged silence between the two. Yet despite these traits, Deepak had been actively involved in Radhika’s life and career. He was even present during the shoot of a music video Radhika featured in last year, which police have ruled out as having any connection to the crime.
A Crime That Stunned the Family
Police are also investigating Radhika’s deleted Instagram account, which she reportedly removed about a month ago, for any clues that might help understand her mental state or social pressures.
Relatives expressed disbelief over the motive. Raj Kumar, Deepak’s maternal cousin, said, “He supported her for years and invested so much in her career.” Another family member, Dharam Singh, added, “He loved his daughter deeply. He would often say she’d be a star one day. I can’t believe he did this.”
The autopsy report confirmed that Radhika had been shot four times, not three as Deepak initially claimed. All bullets were fired from behind, striking her upper torso. “The wounds caused extensive internal damage, with bullets piercing her lungs and heart. She died within minutes due to massive internal bleeding,” the report stated.
FIR Details: “My Brother Killed His Daughter”
According to the FIR, Deepak told police that after suffering a shoulder injury, Radhika could no longer play tennis and decided to open the academy. “When I went to Wazirabad to buy milk, people taunted me—saying I lived off her income and that her character was questionable. I asked her to shut the academy, but she refused. I felt insulted and thought about it for days. In a fit of rage, I shot her three times while she was cooking,” the FIR quotes him as saying.
At the time of the shooting, Radhika’s brother Dheeraj was at work, and her mother Manju was resting in another room. It was Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak’s brother who lives downstairs, who heard a loud noise around 10:30 AM. He found Radhika unconscious in the kitchen and Deepak’s revolver lying in the living room. She was rushed to Asia Maringo Hospital in Sector 56 but was declared dead on arrival.
“The revolver was found at the scene, along with five spent bullet shells and one live cartridge,” said a forensics team member. Radhika’s body was handed over to the family after post-mortem and cremated Friday evening. Deepak was produced in court and remanded to police custody for one day. Police plan to take him to Kasan on Saturday for further investigations.