Lucknow: Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday morning at the age of 38. He leaves behind a life that largely remained distanced from active politics but frequently drew attention for his business pursuits, family connections, personal struggles, and deep affection for animals.
Details of Death
Prateek, who was married to BJP leader Aparna Yadav, was taken to Civil Hospital around 6 am, where doctors declared him dead on arrival. Authorities have stated that the exact cause of death is yet to be determined, and a postmortem examination is being conducted at King George's Medical University.
Background and Career
Born into one of Uttar Pradesh's most influential political families, Prateek chose to stay away from electoral politics. He was educated at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and focused on fitness and real estate businesses in Lucknow. He operated a gym named 'The Fitness Planet' and was involved in several real estate ventures over the years.
Social Media and Animal Welfare
Beyond business and his political lineage, Prateek curated a distinct public image on social media. One of his pinned Instagram posts carried a simple yet telling message: 'May life treat you the way you treat animals.' Another deeply personal post was dedicated to his pet dog Dulari, whom he described as his 'eldest beti.' In the emotional tribute, he wrote that Dulari taught him 'the universal language of beings' and inspired all the animal welfare work he later undertook.
Prateek was also associated with 'Jeev Ashray,' an animal welfare initiative focused on rescuing and caring for stray dogs. His final Instagram post, uploaded on April 3, showed him flying in an Extra EA-300 aerobatic aircraft. Comparing the experience to scenes from the film 'Top Gun,' he wrote about 'pulling Gs, slicing through clouds, and rolling mid-air,' calling it 'adrenaline in its purest form.'
Personal Life and Marital Discord
Earlier this year, Prateek made headlines after publicly discussing marital discord with Aparna Yadav. In a lengthy Instagram post in January, he alleged that he was suffering from severe mental stress and accused Aparna of damaging family relationships while prioritizing fame and influence. He also announced plans to seek divorce. The allegations sparked political and personal speculation, though Aparna's brother Aman Bisht later claimed Prateek's Instagram account had been hacked and termed the posts fake. Within days, the public dispute appeared to subside. In February, Prateek shared another social media post with Aparna carrying the message, 'All is Good.'
Prateek and Aparna married in 2011 in a grand ceremony held in Saifai, attended by several political leaders and celebrities, including Amitabh Bachchan. The couple had known each other since 2001 and have two daughters.
Business Dispute and Family Ties
In recent years, Prateek was also embroiled in a business dispute. He filed an FIR accusing a former business associate of extorting over Rs 4 crore, criminal intimidation, and financial fraud. In the complaint, he claimed that prolonged illness, coupled with the deaths of his mother Sadhna Gupta, father Mulayam Singh Yadav, and maternal uncle, had left him emotionally vulnerable and financially exploited.
Prateek was particularly close to his mother Sadhna Gupta, the second wife of Mulayam Singh Yadav, who died in 2022 after a prolonged illness. He performed her last rites in Lucknow in the presence of Mulayam Singh Yadav and the entire Yadav family, including Akhilesh and Shivpal Yadav.
Political Reactions
Despite periodic reports of tensions within the Yadav family during the Samajwadi Party's internal feud ahead of the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections, Prateek had publicly praised Akhilesh Yadav at the time, saying nobody could put Uttar Pradesh on the path of development like his 'bhaiya.' Following news of his death, condolences poured in from across the political spectrum. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described the death as 'extremely heartbreaking,' while the Samajwadi Party also expressed grief.
Police and medical authorities said the exact cause of death would become clear only after the postmortem report is received.
