Prateek Yadav, son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday at the age of 38. According to officials, he was brought dead to the Civil Hospital around 6:15 am by family members after his health suddenly deteriorated at home.
Prateek was the husband of BJP leader Aparna Yadav and the half-brother of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Police sources said Aparna Yadav was not present when he was taken to the hospital.
Doctors at King George's Medical University are expected to conduct a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Preliminary observations reportedly found no visible injury marks on his body.
Family sources said Prateek had been battling lung-related ailments for a long time and was undergoing treatment for a blood clot in his lungs. His condition reportedly worsened early Wednesday morning when he became unresponsive, prompting relatives to rush him to the hospital.
An MBA graduate from University of Leeds, Prateek Yadav was known as a real estate developer and fitness enthusiast. In 2012, he gained international attention after being featured on a bodybuilding platform for his dramatic fitness transformation, which he once credited to encouragement from his father.
Apart from business and fitness, Prateek was also associated with animal welfare initiatives and often supported campaigns focused on animal care and protection.
He had earlier made headlines in 2017 after purchasing a Lamborghini reportedly worth around Rs 5 crore, drawing criticism from political opponents over the lavish buy. Responding to the controversy at the time, Prateek had maintained that the vehicle was purchased legally through a loan and with declared income.
Prateek was born to Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife Sadhna Yadav. Before marrying Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2003, Sadhna was married to Chandra Prakash Gupta, with whom she had Prateek.
Prateek and Aparna Yadav married in 2011 after several years of courtship. The couple, who have two children, had recently faced turbulence in their relationship. Earlier this year, Prateek had publicly announced plans to seek divorce, alleging emotional strain and deteriorating family ties, though no formal separation followed.
Despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh's most influential political families, Prateek largely stayed away from active politics and never contested elections or held a political post.
