Strong currents and vehicle condition suggest tragic accident following a night of drinking.
The Special Investigation Team that examined the death of Uttarakhand journalist Rajiv Pratap has concluded that he died in a road accident attributed to drunken driving. The 36-year-old journalist went missing on September 18, and his vehicle was located on the banks of the Bhagirathi River two days later, on September 20. His body was subsequently discovered near the Joshiyara barrage in Uttarkashi district on September 28.
According to the investigation, Pratap was last seen on the evening of September 18, when he met Head Constable Soban Singh and his former student, cameraman Manbir Kaluda, at the Shaheed Smarak. The trio reportedly consumed alcohol near the taxi stand until around 10 pm. After Kaluda left for home, Pratap and Singh proceeded to a hotel close to the bus stand, where they continued drinking.
Security camera footage captured Pratap leaving the hotel unsteadily at approximately 11 pm, followed shortly by Singh. The two entered Pratap’s car, but Singh exited soon after. At 11:23 pm, Pratap was recorded driving away alone. The vehicle was last spotted on camera at Gangori Bridge at 11:38 pm. The following day, investigators found the car downstream in the Bhagirathi River, while a bag belonging to Singh was located about 600 meters from the bridge, near the presumed point of the vehicle’s fall.
The police have indicated that the strong currents resulting from a water release at the Maneri dam likely pushed the vehicle downstream. A technical inspection of the car revealed that all four doors were locked, the windows were rolled up, and the ignition was on with the key still inside. The boot was found open, which the investigators believe occurred due to the impact. They noted that there were no signs of external tampering with the vehicle. Inside, a blue slipper was discovered, but no other significant items were retrieved.
A post-mortem examination indicated that Pratap died from internal injuries to his chest and abdomen, consistent with an impact from the steering wheel. Importantly, there were no external injuries or indications of assault reported. Despite the findings of the investigation, Pratap’s family has expressed dissatisfaction with the conclusions drawn by the police, arguing that they reached their findings too hastily. The family had previously voiced concerns regarding Pratap’s apprehensions about the potential repercussions of his reporting on his YouTube channel, Delhi Uttarakhand Live.
