Tennis player Radhika Yadav 'wanted to move abroad due to restrictions', reveals WhatsApp chats before her murder
PTC Web Desk: New details have emerged in the shocking murder of state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav, who was shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their Gurugram residence. As per a report by India Today, WhatsApp conversations between Radhika and her coach reveal that she had been planning to leave India due to restrictions at home.
In the chats accessed by India Today, Radhika Yadav expressed her desire for personal freedom. “Idhar kaafi restrictions hai, wanna enjoy life,” she wrote to her coach, indicating her frustration with her family environment. She had reportedly been exploring options to relocate abroad, with Dubai and Australia as her preferred destinations. She ruled out China, citing limited food choices.
Investigators have arrested Deepak Yadav, who confessed to shooting his daughter over disputes related to her tennis academy. According to Gurugram Police PRO Sandeep Kumar, Deepak was opposed to his daughter running the academy and believed she didn’t need to work as the family was financially stable.
While the police maintain that the academy was the main source of conflict, sources claim that social media and public perception may have also contributed to the motive. Radhika, who hailed from the same village as popular YouTuber Elvish Yadav, was said to be inspired by him and aspired to be a social media influencer. A music video featuring Radhika, released two years ago, has resurfaced online and reportedly triggered taunts from villagers, which may have added to her father’s anger.
The investigation has also raised questions about the nature of the shooting. The autopsy contradicted the FIR, which stated that Radhika was shot from behind. Government Hospital Board member Dr Deepak Mathur confirmed that Radhika had four bullet wounds, all located on her chest, indicating a frontal attack.
Dr Mathur noted that all bullets had been successfully removed from the body and sent for forensic testing. The firearm used in the killing, a licensed .32 bore pistol, was recovered from the scene.
Meanwhile, Radhika’s mother, Manju Yadav, has refrained from giving a formal statement to the police. According to sources, she claimed to be unaware of the motive behind the murder, stating that she had been unwell and was resting in her room at the time of the incident.
An FIR in the case was lodged by Radhika's uncle, Kuldeep Yadav. He reported that Radhika was preparing food in the kitchen for her mother’s birthday when Deepak opened fire, hitting her multiple times. Initially, the FIR claimed three bullets struck her back, but postmortem results confirmed four bullet wounds on her chest.
Radhika had earned accolades representing Haryana and India in tennis tournaments. She stepped away from the sport two years ago due to an injury and had since been focusing on her tennis academy.
- With inputs from agencies
