Unknown assailants fire shots at the rapper's vehicle on a busy road; police launch an investigation.
Haryanvi singer-rapper Rahul Fazilpuria narrowly escaped a gun attack by unidentified assailants in Gurugram on Monday evening, police confirmed. The incident occurred around 6 PM on the Southern Peripheral Road (SPR) near Badshahpur in Sector 71, where two shots were fired at the artist's Mahindra Thar SUV.
Fazilpuria, whose government name is Rahul Yada, was said to have been inside his car at the time of the attack. Police sources say the bullets did not hit the target, but one of them hit a pole on the road divider. There were no injuries during the incident, but the singer was able to escape without getting hurt because the attacker could not chase him due to traffic.
A case of attempted murder by an unidentified person was filed with the Gurugram Police at the Badshahpur police station, and a special team was created to examine the situation. A Tata Punch car, as per CCTV video in the region, is seen tailing the SUV of Fazilpuria a few moments before his assault. Police have since recovered the suspected vehicle and found an empty bullet shell at the crime scene.
"The accused have also been spotted on CCTV. We hope to nab them soon," a police spokesperson said, adding that investigators are examining all angles, including the possibility of old enmity.
Fazilpuria shot to national fame in 2014 with his rap song "Ladki Kar Gayi Chull," which was later featured in the Bollywood film "Kapoor and Sons" starring Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra. The track, produced by Badshah, became a massive hit and established him as a prominent figure in the Haryanvi music scene.
The 35-year-old artist, who derives his stage name from his native village, Fazilpur near Gurugram, has several popular songs to his credit, including "Jimmy Choo," "Party," and "Millionaire." His work has been instrumental in promoting Haryanvi folk music to mainstream audiences.
However, Fazilpuria's recent years have been marred by legal troubles. In 2024, he was arrested along with YouTuber Elvish Yadav for allegedly using rare species of snakes and a .32 calibre pistol in a music video titled "32 Bore." The case was registered following a complaint by the animal rights organisation People for Animals.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) also questioned Fazilpuria as part of a money laundering investigation related to rave parties and snake venom cases. The agency confiscated movable and immovable assets worth over ₹58 lakh belonging to him and Elvish Yadav under the Fazilpuria briefly entered politics, contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Gurugram constituency as a Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) candidate. He was defeated by BJP's Mukesh Sharma, who won by a margin of 1.22 lakh votes.
Police sources revealed that Fazilpuria's security cover had been recently withdrawn, though they did not specify the reasons. The timing of the attack, coming after his legal troubles and political defeat, has raised questions about the motive behind the incident.
Investigators are currently analysing CCTV footage from multiple locations and questioning witnesses to identify the perpetrators. The case has sent shockwaves through the Haryanvi entertainment industry, with many expressing concerns about the safety of artists in the region.
The attack on Fazilpuria highlights the complex intersection of entertainment, politics, and crime in North India, where regional artists often find themselves navigating dangerous territory both professionally and personally.
