Radhika Yadav was not shot by her father over reels: Gurugram police reveal a shocking reason behind the killing

Tennis player Radhika Yadav was shot dead on Thursday morning by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their Sector 57 residence in Gurugram. Police said the shooting took place around 10:30 am in the family’s kitchen. Deepak Yadav, 51, was arrested after family members gave statements to the police. Tennis player Radhika Yadav was not shot dead by her father over her Instagram reels or social media activity, as some reports had initially suggested. According to the police, the motive behind the killing was more serious and personal. Investigators said the primary trigger was a long-standing dispute between Radhika and her father, Deepak Yadav, over the tennis academy she was running. He was reportedly unhappy with the idea of her managing the academy and upset over relatives mocking him for depending on her income. Radhika was in the kitchen when her father allegedly fired five rounds from his licensed .32 bore revolver. Three bullets struck her in the back, killing her on the spot.

Why Radhika Yadav was shot by her father?
As per sources quoted by PTI, Deepak Yadav admitted that he fired at Radhika because he faced frequent taunts about relying on her earnings. However, police said the main issue between the father and daughter was the tennis academy managed by Radhika. “Radhika used to run a tennis academy, and her father was not happy with it,” PTI quoted Gurugram police spokesperson Sandeep Singh as saying.

“He wanted her to shut down the academy, but she refused. He finally shot her dead over the same dispute,” HT quoted assistant commissioner of police Yashwant Yadav said.

The FIR stated that Deepak told the police he had been depressed for the last 15 days due to social pressure and criticism, the HT report stated. He said his pride was hurt and he could no longer bear the humiliation.

Radhiya Yadav Case: Police probe other possible motives
While the primary dispute appears to be over the tennis academy, Gurugram police said they are also examining other angles. These include the father’s possible objection to Radhika’s relationship or to videos she posted on Instagram.

An FIR has been registered at the Sector 56 police station. Police said they will continue to question family members and examine Radhika’s phone and social media activity as part of the investigation.

Radhika Yadav's Mother not ready to give statement
Radhika’s mother, Manju Yadav, did not give her statement to the police. As per the FIR, she told officers she had a fever and was not present at the time of the incident.

Radhika Yadav's school, age, tennis career?
Radhika Yadav was an emerging talent in Indian tennis. Born on March 23, 2000, she had achieved a career-high ranking of 113 in the ITF women’s doubles standings as of November 4, 2024. In Haryana, she ranked fifth in the women’s doubles category.

Radhika Yadav had studied at Scottish High International School and cleared her Class 12 exams in commerce in 2018. She began playing tennis in her early school years and had recently started running an academy to coach young players.

Despite a recent shoulder injury and undergoing physiotherapy, she remained active in the sport. Police officials said she was known for her cheerful personality and had shared social media reels of herself celebrating victories with her father.

She had participated in several national and international events, earning recognition for her speed, game sense, and strong discipline. Radhika was regarded as one of the promising doubles players in the country, alongside names like Poorvi Bhatt and Thaniya Sarai Gogulamanda.