Pastor Praveen’s death linked to drunk driving; Christian lobby alleges foul play; AP govt orders probe

VSK Telangana    31-Mar-2025
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Pastor Praveen
 
The mysterious death of Christian evangelist Pagadala Praveen Kumar on the morning of March 26, 2025, near Konthamuru on the outskirts of Rajamahendravaram, has sparked controversy in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. While police investigations suggest reckless drunken driving, Christian groups are aggressively pushing the narrative that he was murdered, allegedly by Hindus. The allegations, however, lack any concrete evidence and ignore critical facts, including his heavy alcohol consumption, erratic journey, and repeated falls from his bike before his death.
 
Timeline
 
March 24: Praveen left Hyderabad at 11 AM, stopped in Kodad at noon to buy Rs 650 worth of liquor, and started drinking. Near Kanchikacherla-Paritala, he fell, breaking his headlight and injuring his hands. At Gollapudi petrol station, staff noticed his disoriented state.
 
Evening: CCTV tracked him through Vijayawada, but he vanished after Mahanadu Junction. He was later found fallen again near Ramavarappadu. Traffic SI Subba Rao found him heavily drunk.
 
Night: He slept at a traffic booth at 8:20 PM. Despite a police warning, he rode to Eluru, bought more liquor, and continued recklessly. On March 26, he was found dead in Rajamahendravaram.
 
 
 (Courtesy: NTV, Telugu )
 
A Controversial Past: Why the Communal Angle?
 
Adding to the suspicion behind this communal propaganda, Praveen had a history of conflicts, particularly with a Muslim religious leader named Shafi.
 
A few months ago, Praveen’s comments had triggered anger within sections of the Muslim community. Under pressure, he had publicly apologized to Shafi and the Muslim community on social media, even pleading for forgiveness and begging for his life.
 
 
However, instead of focusing on this past dispute, Christian groups have now fabricated an anti-Hindu narrative. Social media is flooded with baseless claims blaming Hindus for Praveen’s death, despite zero evidence linking Hindus to the case.
 
Political and Religious Forces at Play
 
The controversy has escalated to political circles, with Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu instructing DGP Harish Kumar Gupta to initiate a high-level probe.
 
Home Minister Anitha clarified that Praveen’s death is not being treated as a mere accident. A DSP-level inquiry committee has been appointed, and authorities have warned against inciting communal hatred.
 
Christian Groups Cry Murder, Blame Hindus Without Evidence
 
According to sources, Praveen’s final ride was a tragic case of drunk driving. Despite clear indications of an accident, Christian groups have begun alleging that Praveen’s death was not due to the road mishap but was, in fact, a murder. Even before the post-mortem report was released, a narrative blaming Hindus started circulating on social media.
 
Adding fuel to the speculation, past conflicts between Praveen and a Muslim leader named Shafi have been brought up. Although Praveen had previously apologized to Shafi and the Muslim community through social media, certain factions are now pushing the conspiracy theory that Hindus orchestrated his murder.
 
Who is Pastor Praveen?
 
Pastor Praveen Pagadala, a Hyderabad-based Christian evangelist, hailed from Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh. He completed his missionary training in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, before taking on key roles in religious and business ventures.
 
He was a Trust Board member at Rakshana TV, a Christian satellite channel, where he frequently hosted debates on Hindu-Christian conflicts. He later became a director at FirstRate Software Private Limited, alongside his wife, Jessica Pagadala, and other co-directors.
 
In 2022, he co-founded Uncle Dave’s Coffee Private Limited, headquartered in Secunderabad, Telangana, with Jessica Pagadala and Ben Baartman as fellow directors.
 
Actively involved in the Business as Mission (BAM) movement, Praveen sought to integrate Christian principles into professional networks, using business as a tool for evangelism. However, his influence extended beyond corporate spaces.
 
He frequently used TV platforms and social media to attack Hindu beliefs, misinterpreting Puranic texts to fuel religious discord. His rhetoric often targeted Hinduism, creating controversy over his intent and agenda.
 
In an old video that resurfaced after his death, Pastor Praveen Pagadala made a shocking confession about his past. He admitted to killing his own friend, allegedly in retaliation for the friend throwing a knife at his brother. After the incident, he claimed to have disposed of the body by dumping it in the bushes before fleeing the scene. According to his statement, he avoided legal consequences with the alleged help of his sister, who was serving as a Circle Inspector at the time.
 
 
 
In another video, Pastor Pagadala openly acknowledged his struggle with substance abuse. He described himself as a drug addict, admitting that he had once been incapable of functioning without daily drug use. These revelations have further fuelled controversy surrounding his already contentious public persona.
 
Pastor Praveen Christian Lobby