Telugu Girl Killed By Police In USA: 262 Cr Compensation!

It is already known that a Telugu origin girl named Jaahnavi Kandula was brutally killed in a road accident involving a police officer in Seattle in United States. Now, there’s a very big development in connection with this case.

In Seattle, United States, the city has agreed to pay USD 29 million, about ₹262 crore to the family of 23-year-old Jaahnavi Kandula from India.

Jaahnavi was a graduate student studying information systems at Northeastern University in Seattle. She was walking in a marked crosswalk on January 23, 2023, when a Seattle police patrol car hit her and she died. The officer driving was going 74 mph in a 25 mph zone while responding to a drug overdose call.

The crash caused strong public anger in the United States and India. The family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and the officer. In court, the city decided to settle and pay USD 29 million to the family now. City officials said they hope this money will give some closure to Jaahnavi’s parents and loved ones.

The case became even more controversial after a body camera clip of another Seattle police officer was released. In the clip, he is heard laughing and making insensitive comments about Jaahnavi’s death, saying her life had “limited value” and joking about a small payout. This sparked protests and criticism of the police department. That officer was later fired and has sued the city for wrongful termination.

The officer who hit Jaahnavi was also fired and fined USD 5 000 for negligent driving, but he did not face felony charges.