A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttarakhand Police has concluded that journalist Rajiv Pratap died in a car accident on September 18 after driving under the influence of alcohol. However, the family of the 36-year-old, who ran a YouTube news channel, rejects this conclusion, alleging foul play and questioning the integrity of the police probe.
Pratap was reported missing in Uttarkashi on September 19, and his body was recovered from the Joshiyara Barrage on September 28.
According to the SIT, on the night he disappeared, Pratap was drinking with a head constable, Soban Singh, and his cameraman. After the cameraman left, CCTV footage captured Pratap driving away alone around 11:23 PM, appearing heavily intoxicated. His car was last seen on camera at 11:38 PM before it presumably fell into a gorge and into the river below. Police believe strong currents from a dam release that night carried the vehicle downstream.
The investigation found Pratap’s car with all four doors locked from the inside, the key in the ignition, and no signs of tampering. The post-mortem report attributed his death to shock and haemorrhage from internal chest and abdominal injuries consistent with impact from a steering wheel, ruling out assault.
Pratap’s family remains unconvinced, pointing to his recent critical reporting on the Uttarkashi district hospital and claiming he had been facing threats. They accuse the police of rushing the investigation to close the case. Pratap’s uncle, Kripal Singh, who filed the complaint, questioned why there were injuries to his nephew’s eyes and head that remain unexplained. He also stated that the family has not been given access to Pratap’s call detail records and raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, as the SIT includes officers from the same police station they are critical of.
