The last rites of Prateek Yadav, the younger stepbrother of Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, were performed in Lucknow on Thursday amid a massive gathering of political leaders, supporters, and family members. Thousands of people joined the funeral procession as Prateek’s mortal remains were taken from his residence to the Baikunth Dham cremation ground, with mourners raising slogans in his memory. Leaders from both the Samajwadi Party and the Bharatiya Janata Party were present to pay their final respects to the 38-year-old businessman, whose sudden death on Wednesday shocked political circles in Uttar Pradesh.

The funeral rituals were attended by several members of the Yadav family, including Akhilesh Yadav, BJP leader Aparna Yadav, and their daughters. Akhilesh Yadav paid tribute to his brother by placing wood on the funeral pyre and bowing before him during the cremation ceremony. Prateek’s father-in-law, Arvind Singh Bisht, lit the pyre and was visibly emotional during the final rites. Samajwadi Party MP Aditya Yadav also participated in the procession by helping shoulder the bier. Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak and senior BJP leaders were among those present at the cremation ground.

Before the cremation, Prateek Yadav’s body was briefly taken to the Samajwadi Party office in Lucknow in keeping with local traditions. Supporters lined the roads as the cortege moved through the city towards the cremation site located around five kilometers away. Family members, relatives, and political workers gathered in large numbers throughout the day. A photograph of Prateek with his pets was placed on the hearse, highlighting his widely known affection for animals and pets, which had become one of the personal aspects often associated with his public image despite his limited political involvement.

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According to the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as cardio-respiratory collapse. Medical officials stated that Prateek was suffering from pulmonary thromboembolism, a serious medical condition caused by blood clots blocking arteries in the lungs and affecting blood circulation to vital organs. Doctors also reportedly found six injury marks on his body, with some estimated to be around a week old and others more recent. Authorities have preserved the viscera for further forensic examination as part of the ongoing medical investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Prateek Yadav was the son of Sadhana Gupta and late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav. Sadhana Gupta had earlier married Chandraprakash Gupta before later marrying Mulayam Singh Yadav in 2003. Though he belonged to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most prominent political families, Prateek largely stayed away from electoral politics and focused on business ventures linked to fitness and real estate. He had studied at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom and was also known for his interest in luxury cars and high-end motorcycles. Election affidavits filed in 2022 had placed the combined assets of Prateek and Aparna Yadav at around ₹23 crore.

Meanwhile, the circumstances surrounding Prateek Yadav’s death have prompted demands for a deeper investigation. An NGO identified as the DK Foundation has approached the National Human Rights Commission seeking a probe into the case. The organization questioned the presence of injury marks despite the postmortem citing cardiorespiratory collapse as the cause of death. It has demanded the formation of a Special Investigation Team and called for the preservation of CCTV footage from Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Hospital as well as routes connected to his transport to the hospital. The NGO has also sought an independent forensic investigation outside state supervision to ensure transparency in the inquiry.

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