Investigation finds Uttarkashi journalist died in accident, no signs of assault: Police

Police said Rajiv Pratap had “consumed alcohol and was driving on the wrong side of the road,” ruling out foul play and citing an “accident” as the cause of his death

Dehradun: Uttarkashi Police on Tuesday said their investigation revealed that the 36-year-old journalist, whose body was recovered on September 28 from the Joshiyara barrage of the Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district, had “consumed alcohol and was driving on the wrong side of the road,” ruling out foul play and citing an “accident” as the cause of his death.

The 36-year-old journalist’s body was recovered on September 28 from the Joshiyara barrage of the Bhagirathi river in Uttarakhand’s Uttarkashi district.

The body of Rajiv Pratap was recovered ten days after his disappearance.

According to the police, on the evening of September 18, Rajiv had dinner with his friend Soban Singh at a hotel near the Uttarkashi bus stand. Thereafter, he took his friend’s Alto car and left towards Gangori from Uttarkashi.

“Journalist Rajiv Pratap and his friend, head constable Soban Singh, had consumed alcohol before arriving at the hotel near the Uttarkashi bus stand on September 18. CCTV footage shows them leaving the hotel around 11 pm, appearing unsteady. Rajiv got into the car while Soban remained outside,” Uttarkashi deputy superintendent of police Janak Panwar, the investigating officer in the case, said.

“They spoke for about 20 minutes before Rajiv told him he was taking the car and would return shortly. He then drove alone towards Gangori, where his body was later found, and was seen driving on the wrong side of the road before the car plunged 50–60 metres into the Bhagirathi river,” he added.

“There were no external injuries suggesting assault. The internal injuries, such as on the ribs, were consistent with those sustained in a car crash,” the officer/Panwar said.

The police officer also said a technical analysis of the car had been conducted, which did not suggest any foul play either.