Gurugram: Three unidentified men on motorcycles allegedly opened fire outside YouTuber Elvish Yadav’s residence in Gurugram’s Sector 57 early Sunday, police said.
Bigg Boss 2023 winner Elvish Yadav resides on the second floor of the building
The assailants fired over two dozen rounds around 5.30am, several of which hit the ground and first floors of the building where Yadav lives on the second floor, before fleeing, officials added. A police team from Sector 56 station rushed to the spot, collected forensic samples, and began scanning CCTV footage from the neighbourhood.
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“The incident took place around 5.30am and more than a dozen rounds were fired. Elvish Yadav was not at his residence at the time. We are investigating the matter,” said Sandeep Kumar, spokesperson for Gurugram police. He said an FIR is being registered based on the family’s complaint under sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 3(5)(common intention), along with sections 25 and 27 of the Indian Arms Act, 1959.
Bhau Gang claims responsibility
Hours later, gangsters Neeraj Faridpur and Bhau Ritaulia, in a social media post under the name “Bhau Gang”, claimed responsibility. “Jai Bhole ki, Ram Ram! The bullets that were fired at Elvish Yadav’s house today were fired by us. He has ruined many houses by promoting betting apps. Other social media influencers promoting betting may face bullets or calls,” the message read.
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Police officials, however, declined to confirm the authenticity of the claim, saying the matter is under investigation.
Family’s account
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Police officials, however, declined to confirm the authenticity of the claim, saying the matter is under investigation.
Family’s account
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Ram Avtar Yadav, Elvish’s father, said the family woke up to gunfire. “Around 5.30 am, we heard a sound and when we came outside, we saw bullets had been fired. The CCTV footage shows two attackers clearly, and possibly a third. More than 15 rounds were fired. Elvish was not at home; he is out for work. We are scared and hope the police arrest the accused soon,” he said. He added that the family had not received any threats before the incident.
Although private security personnel were stationed in the general vicinity, no guards were present at the exact spot where the incident took place, police said.
Linked to past cases
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Police said they are probing possible links to another recent shooting at the home of singer Rahul Fazilpuria. Both Fazilpuria and Yadav had recently collaborated on a controversial music album. Investigators are examining whether the two cases are connected.
Senior officers said multiple teams have been formed to track the suspects. “Forensic samples have been collected and CCTV footage from nearby areas is being analysed to trace the attackers’ movement,” one officer said. Additional police have been deployed in the locality to reassure residents.
No arrests had been made till Sunday evening, though officials said efforts are being intensified to identify and nab the shooters.
Yadav amassed popularity after winning the popular reality TV show Bigg Boss in 2023 and his content on YouTube.
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The Bigg Boss 2023 winner, who resides on the second floor of the building, was not in Gurugram at the time of the incident. The firing was targeted at the floors below his flat. (Video Grab)
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
