Dharam Pal Yadav is a former cabinet minister of Uttar Pradesh. He is often referred to with epithets such as "mafia don", "underworld don" or the "unrivalled don of western Uttar Pradesh". He is the father of Vikas Yadav, the convicted murderer of Nitish Katara. He was an MLA (member of the state legislature) four times (three times from Bulandshahr and once from Sahaswan) and also an MP (member of parliament) twice (representing Sambhal in both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha). His wife, Umlesh Yadav, was MLA from Bisauli. His nephew is currently Member of Legislative Council (MLC) from Badaun.