GURUGRAM, July 12 — As police probe deeper into the killing of former state-level tennis player Radhika Yadav, new details are emerging that cast light on the final days of the 24-year-old and the events that may have triggered the violent rupture within her family.
According to reports by CNN-News18, Radhika had deactivated her Instagram account shortly after the release of a romantic music video titled Karwaan, in which she appeared alongside singer Inaam Ul Haq. The video, released earlier this year, was shot in Delhi and approved by her father — Deepak Yadav — who is now accused of murdering her with his licensed revolver.
Inaam told reporters that he noticed Radhika’s sudden absence online and reached out to her after her account vanished. “She said she was busy with work and had deactivated it temporarily,” he recalled. “The shoot lasted about five hours and was done in her mother’s presence. She only accepted conveyance money. I also came to know she was seriously considering acting.”
Police officials now suspect the video and the attention it received may have deepened existing fault lines between Radhika and her father. Investigators believe Deepak Yadav was increasingly unsettled by gossip and remarks from relatives and neighbours who suggested he was financially dependent on his daughter’s earnings from her tennis academy.
“The tennis academy appears to be the central source of tension in this case,” an official familiar with the investigation said. “There were ongoing disagreements about financial control and reputation.”
While some family members said they had noticed no immediate signs of conflict between father and daughter, others recounted disturbing details of the aftermath. Radhika’s uncle said he discovered her in the kitchen, lying in a pool of blood, having been shot four times at close range.
Her mother, who was present during the music video shoot, has refrained from making a public statement so far.
Police continue to investigate the motive and psychological triggers behind what they now view as a premeditated act, allegedly sparked by wounded pride, social pressure, and deep-seated resentment within the family home.
Read more: Police Probe Mother’s Role as New Questions Emerge in Tennis Player’s Murder
