Pastor Praveen Pagadala died in a road accident, not murdered, Andhra Pradesh police investigations reveal

Andhra Pradesh police have concluded that Pastor Praveen Pagadala was not murdered, but died of injuries he sustained in accident involving his motorcycle

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh police have cracked the mystery behind the death of pastor Praveen Pagadala, bringing curtains down on a major controversy on whether the pastor was murdered. Investigations have now conclusively proved that Praveen’s death was due to injuries sustained in a road accident and not inflicted by anyone.

Pastor Praveen Pagadala died near Kontamur village in Rajamahendravaram city (aka Rajahmundry) on March 24. He was travelling to Rajamahendravaram from Hyderabad on a Royal Enfield motorcycle. The presence of injuries on his body kicked off a major controversy with various Christian associations and individuals suspecting it to be a case of murder.

However, police investigations conclusively proved that he died of injuries sustained in a road accident caused by himself. The death was due to injuries on various parts of his body and these injuries could have been caused when he fell from the vehicle, but not inflicted by others, police have concluded after collating various scientific evidences including the post-mortem report.

Eluru Range DIG Ashok Kumar told newsmen in Rajahmundry on Saturday that Pastor Praveen was travelling on the Enfield motorcycle at a speed of 70 kmph at the time of the accident. The vehicle was being driven in the fourth gear, the Road Transport Authority officials found in their probe. Medical authorities have declared that the pastor died on the spot at the accident site.

The DIG said investigators have questioned as many as 92 witnesses. The Pastor’s last travel to Rajahmundry was only known to his wife and two persons – Akash and John, in Rajahmundry. On his way also, the Pastor spoke on phone to his wife, friends and some other pastors on general issues. Incidentally, Praveen’s family members had not raised any doubts about his cause of death, Ashok Kumar said.

Why was he travelling on motorcycle to Rajahmundry?
Ashok Kumar said Pastor Praveen was going to Rajahmundry on the motorcycle despite his friends warning him not to do so. One of his friends had even suggested to get the motorcycle transported in a train was not heeded to and Praveen began his journey from Hyderabad to Rajahmundry on the Enfield.

Police investigators found that Praveen had bought a piece of land in Namavaramm village to build a Bible Mission College in March and was going to Rajahmundry only to supervise some works. The police officer asserted that probe was done based on the evidences collected by the Forensic Lab in Vijayawada, mobile phone call data records, Cell Tower locations, UPI Payments, eye witnesses, autopsy report, RTA reports and other circumstantial evidences.

The DIG also disclosed that none of those who suspected it to be a case of murder had provided any evidences to support their suspicion. Eleven cases were registered against those making false allegations to arouse suspicions and one of them was already arrested. The police officer indicated that action would be taken against anyone who spreads false information leading to tensions in the society.