Drink with a cop, late-night drive: Probe team says Uttarakhand journalist found in river died in car accident

While his family has alleged foul play, pointing to his recent reporting on the Uttarkashi district hospital and raising concerns that he was facing threats, police have maintained that his death was the result of a car accident.

On Thursday, the SIT claimed that Pratap had been drinking and had driven into a gorge on the night he went missing.

Night of September 18

According to the SIT, which is working under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police Janak Panwar, Pratap had been drinking with Head Constable Soban Singh of Police Lines, Uttarkashi. Around 7 pm, Pratap, Singh and Pratap’s cameraman, Manveer Kaluda, met near Shaheed Smarak behind Police Lines. The three later returned to a taxi stand, where they began drinking. Around 10 pm, Kaluda went home, while Pratap and Singh drove to the market and then went inside a hotel near the bus stand.

“At around 11 pm, Pratap is seen leaving the hotel, appearing under the influence of liquor. A short while later, Soban Singh also leaves. Both sit in the vehicle, but Singh steps out soon after,” the police said. At 11.22 pm, CCTV footage shows Singh speaking to Pratap, who was seated inside the car. A minute later, at 11.23 pm, Pratap drove off towards Gangori, leaving Singh behind. The car was next seen on CCTV at Badri Tiraha, Tekhla Bridge, and finally at Gangori bridge at 11.38 pm. After this, it was not captured on cameras, police said.

During questioning, Singh told police he had advised Pratap not to drive as he was unsteady, but Pratap left despite this. Singh said he walked in the same direction for some distance, did not find the vehicle, and returned to his accommodation.

Car recovered

The next day, Singh identified Pratap’s car when it was found. Police said a bag belonging to Singh was recovered about 600 metres ahead of Gangori bridge, below the road, near the spot where the car is believed to have fallen off. The river there flows about 50 metres below the road. According to police, the release of water from the Maneri dam that night created strong currents, which likely carried the vehicle downstream.

A technical inspection of the car found that all four doors were locked, the windows rolled up, and the ignition on, with the key inside. Police said there were no signs of tampering, with the locks intact, and the glass shattered during the fall.

The police said the postmortem concluded that Pratap died of haemorrhage and shock due to internal injuries in the chest and abdomen. “No injuries caused by assault or external objects were found in the report. Internal injuries were consistent with impact from the steering wheel, which is common when a vehicle falls,” police said.

Police also said that after the last sighting of the car at 11.38 pm, CCTV footage from the Gangori area showed two pickups and a tempo traveller passing within 5–10 minutes. “The drivers were questioned extensively and their vehicles checked, but no useful information was obtained. Collection of electronic and other evidence is ongoing,” the SIT said.

Pratap’s family, however, has accused the police of rushing to close the case. “They were tasked with a special investigation, but drew conclusions too early. We have been asking why there were injuries to his eyes and head, but we have not received answers. The call detail records have not been shared with us. Also, officers from the same police station are probing the case. What is the point of an SIT if it is the same officers?” asked Pratap’s uncle, Kripal Singh, the complainant in the case.