Prateek Yadav, the step-brother of Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav and husband of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Aparna Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday morning under what officials have described as mysterious circumstances.
Background of the Case
In a separate case registered in 2025, Prateek Yadav had accused a former business associate of extorting over Rs 4 crore and threatening to damage his reputation. An FIR was lodged at the Gautampalli police station against three individuals for alleged financial fraud, criminal breach of trust, blackmail, and intimidation.
Business Partnership
According to the complaint, Yadav and the associate had established a real estate firm named Monal Infratech Pvt Ltd in 2015. Yadav stated that his health deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic. Between 2020 and 2022, he reportedly suffered from a prolonged illness, which was further compounded by the deaths of his mother in September 2022, his father in October 2022, and his maternal uncle in November 2022.
Allegations of Exploitation
Yadav alleged that during this period of personal loss and illness, the business partner intensified financial exploitation and emotionally manipulated him to extract additional money. After recovering, when Yadav confronted the associate, he was allegedly threatened with legal action. As per the FIR, the partner also sent intimidating emails and WhatsApp messages to Yadav. Yadav further claimed that two members of the associate's family were involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Investigation Underway
The circumstances surrounding Yadav's death are currently under investigation. Authorities have not released further details, and the post-mortem examination is awaited. The case has drawn significant attention due to the political connections of the deceased.
