Prateek Yadav’s last rites today in Lucknow; postmortem points to cardiac arrest

Late SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger son Prateek Yadav will be cremated at Baikunth Dham; doctors preserve viscera for further probe.

The final journey of Prateek Yadav, the younger brother of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, is set to take place at Lucknow’s Baikunth Dham on Thursday afternoon. Prateek, the son of the late Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife Sadhana Gupta, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 38.

The sudden demise has sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh’s political circles, drawing leaders across party lines to the Yadav residence to pay their final respects. Prateek, who largely steered clear of the active political life pursued by his brothers and father, was a well-known figure in the real estate and fitness industry in the state capital.

Postmortem reveals cardiac arrest

Medical authorities at King George’s Medical University (KGMU), where the autopsy was conducted, confirmed on Thursday that the primary cause of death was cardiac arrest. However, the report has added layers to the investigation, noting six injury marks on Prateek's body.

According to hospital sources, three of these injuries appeared to be approximately a week old, while the other three were sustained within 24 hours of his passing. Given the high-profile nature of the case, officials have preserved the viscera for further histopathological examination to rule out any underlying complications.

A family in mourning

The atmosphere at the family's Lucknow residence remained somber throughout the night. Prateek’s wife and BJP leader, Aparna Yadav, who was in Assam at the time of the tragedy, rushed back to Lucknow late Wednesday. Witnesses described an emotional scene as she reached the house, breaking down while embracing her two daughters.

Aparna reportedly stayed beside the body throughout the night. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, along with his wife and MP Dimple Yadav, were among the first to reach the civil hospital and later the postmortem house on Wednesday. Akhilesh, who shared a complex but private bond with his younger brother, appeared visibly shaken during the morning's rituals.

Medical history and complications

While the postmortem cited cardiac arrest, doctors who had been monitoring Prateek’s health indicated he had been battling a serious lung condition. Sources at the hospital stated he was suffering from pulmonary embolism—a condition where blood clots block the arteries in the lungs. This condition often leads to sudden respiratory distress and can put immense pressure on the heart, eventually triggering the fatal arrest.

Life away from the spotlight

Born in 1987 to Sadhana Gupta and later legally adopted by Mulayam Singh Yadav, Prateek’s upbringing was distinctly different from the rest of the Saifai clan. An alumnus of the University of Leeds in the UK, he chose to invest his energy into his passion for luxury automobiles and high-end fitness centers rather than the rigors of election campaigning.

Despite his wife Aparna Yadav joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2022, Prateek maintained a neutral public stance, often seen as the bridge between the family’s differing political leanings. His presence was a constant at family gatherings, even as the internal dynamics of the Yadav family shifted over the years.

Preparations for final journey

Security has been tightened around the Vikramaditya Marg area and the route leading to Baikunth Dham. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was among the dignitaries who visited the family to offer condolences, briefly interacting with Aparna Yadav and her children.

The funeral procession is expected to begin shortly, with a large number of Samajwadi Party workers and family well-wishers gathering to bid farewell to the 38-year-old.