Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday expressed profound grief over the sudden and mysterious death of his stepbrother, Prateek Yadav, who passed away in Lucknow at the age of 38. In a heartfelt post on social media platform X, Akhilesh Yadav wrote, “The passing of Shri Prateek Yadav Ji is extremely sad! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!”
Circumstances Surrounding the Death
Prateek Yadav, who was married to Bharatiya Janata Party leader Aparna Yadav, was brought to Lucknow’s Civil Hospital around 6 am on Wednesday by Aparna’s brother, Aman Singh Bisht. Upon arrival, doctors declared him dead on arrival. According to Dr. D.C. Pandey, Chief Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital, Prateek had no pulse when he was brought in, and his heart had stopped functioning. Authorities stated that the exact cause of death would only be determined after a thorough postmortem examination.
His body was subsequently sent to King George's Medical University for an autopsy. Officials confirmed that a chest X-ray was conducted prior to the postmortem, which is being performed by a medical team led by Dr. Mausami Singh. Heavy police deployment was observed outside the mortuary during the procedure to maintain order and security.
Recent Health Issues
Sources revealed that Prateek had been admitted to a private hospital on April 30 after his health condition deteriorated. Although his condition reportedly improved after a few days, he is said to have returned home without formally taking discharge. The reasons behind his sudden decline remain unclear.
Family and Political Background
Aparna Yadav, who was in Assam at the time of the incident, rushed back to Lucknow immediately after receiving news of her husband’s death. Prateek was the son of the late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife, Sadhna Gupta. Despite hailing from one of Uttar Pradesh’s most influential political families, Prateek largely stayed away from electoral politics and focused on business ventures.
An alumnus of the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, Prateek ran a fitness centre in Lucknow called “The Fitness Planet.” He was also associated with an animal welfare initiative named “Jeev Ashray,” which worked for the care and rescue of stray dogs. His entrepreneurial and philanthropic efforts reflected a life dedicated to personal passions rather than political ambitions.
Marriage and Personal Life
Prateek and Aparna married in December 2011 in Saifai, Etawah, in a high-profile ceremony attended by several prominent personalities, including Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan. The couple had known each other since 2001 and had two daughters together. Their marriage was considered a unique union across party lines, given Aparna’s affiliation with the BJP and Prateek’s family legacy in the Samajwadi Party.
The couple briefly made headlines earlier this year after Prateek publicly announced plans to seek a divorce from Aparna over personal differences. However, the issue was resolved within days, and the two were later seen together during family events, indicating a reconciliation.
Condolences Pour In
Following the news of Prateek’s death, condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also expressed grief over Prateek Yadav’s demise, underscoring the widespread respect for the family. The untimely death has left many in shock, as Prateek was known for his low-profile yet impactful contributions to society.
The postmortem results are awaited to shed light on the exact cause of death, which remains a subject of speculation and concern among family members and the public alike.
