Overview

• Deputy superintendent Janak Panwar said on October 3 that the probe’s prima facie finding is a road accident caused by intoxication, with other angles still being examined.
• CCTV shows Pratap leaving a hotel appearing unsteady around 11 pm on September 18, driving alone toward Gangori, and last captured at 11:38 pm before the car likely plunged 50–60 metres into the Bhagirathi.
• A technical inspection found all doors locked, windows up, the ignition on with the key inside, no signs of tampering, and the boot likely forced open by impact, with a single blue slipper recovered.
• The post-mortem cites haemorrhage and shock from internal chest and abdominal injuries consistent with a crash and reports no external assault marks.
• Relatives and opposition leaders dispute the finding, alleging prior threats and seeking an independent probe, as police note a constable’s bag recovered near the suspected fall site and say a Maneri dam release likely pushed the car downstream.