DEHRADUN, October 1 — Uttarakhand Police on Wednesday constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the death of journalist Rajiv Pratap, whose body was found in the Bhagirathi river nearly 10 days after he went missing, officials said.
Pratap, last seen on the night of September 18, disappeared after leaving in his car. His damaged vehicle was located on the river bank two days later, on September 20, while his body was recovered on September 28 near the Joshiada barrage in Uttarkashi district.
Director General of Police Deepam Seth said the SIT will be led by the deputy superintendent of police, Uttarkashi, and will examine every angle, including CCTV footage, electronic data, call records, and witness statements. A technical evaluation of Pratap’s vehicle will also be carried out.
The DGP confirmed that Pratap’s family had alleged he had received threatening calls before his disappearance. “Though no formal complaint has been lodged, the SIT will probe this aspect as well,” Seth said.
Earlier, police citing the post-mortem report said Pratap died due to internal injuries to his chest and abdomen, consistent with an accident, and that no external injury marks were found. Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobal reiterated the findings, noting the injuries aligned with a crash scenario.
Seth said a large-scale search had been launched after the journalist’s disappearance was reported on September 19, with help from the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, drones, and dog squads. An FIR for abduction was also registered based on the family’s complaint.
The formation of the SIT comes amid growing calls for a high-level inquiry. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi termed Pratap’s death “tragic” and demanded transparency. “There should be an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into Rajiv ji’s death, and the victim’s family should receive justice without delay,” Gandhi wrote in a post on X.
