A 25-year-old national-level tennis player, Radhika Yadav, was allegedly shot dead by her father, Deepak Yadav, at their home in Gurugram’s Sector 57 on Thursday morning. In his confession to the police, Deepak stated that he was troubled by villagers’ taunts suggesting he was surviving off his daughter’s income and had even heard people questioning her character.

He said he had asked Radhika multiple times to shut down the academy, but she refused.

According to the FIR filed, on the complaint of her uncle Kuldeep Yadav, Deepak was upset with his daughter for continuing the academy despite his repeated objections.

The incident occurred around 10:30 am on the first floor of their residence while Radhika was in the kitchen preparing food.

Deepak allegedly fired three bullets from his licenced revolver, critically injuring her. She was rushed to Asia Maringo Hospital by her uncle and cousin but was declared dead on arrival.

Radhika had once played tennis at the national level and had won several trophies. However, following a shoulder injury sustained during a match, she stopped playing and started a tennis academy, where she coached children.

Unable to cope with the “insult” and pressure, Deepak said he took out his licenced .32 bore revolver and shot his daughter from behind while she was in the kitchen.

At the time of the incident, only Deepak, Radhika, and her mother Manju Yadav were present at home. Their son, Dheeraj, was at his property dealer’s office. Deepak’s brother Kuldeep and his son Piyush, who live on the ground floor, rushed upstairs after hearing gunshots and found Radhika lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen.

The revolver was found on the drawing room table with five empty shells and one live cartridge inside.

Kuldeep and Piyush rushed Radhika to the hospital, but she had already succumbed to her injuries. In his statement to the police, Kuldeep said he was shocked by the murder and had no prior indication of such an intention from Deepak. He added that Deepak’s revolver was known to the family and had been used in the crime.

Manju Yadav, Radhika’s mother, told police she was lying in her room at the time of the incident due to fever and only heard the gunshots. She claimed ignorance of what triggered the act and denied knowledge of any serious dispute between her husband and daughter, saying Radhika had a good character and had never brought disrepute to the family.

The Gurugram police confirmed that Deepak Yadav confessed to the crime during an on-spot interrogation.

Fingerprint experts were called in, and the revolver used in the shooting, along with blood samples and swabs from the crime scene, were seized as evidence. A case under sections 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the Arms Act has been registered.

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