Video of Police Officer Mocking Indian Student After Accident Goes Viral; Investigation Underway
Body Cam Footage Raises Questions in the Tragic Death of Janhvi Kandula in America
NEW YORK: Shocking Body camera footage has emerged in the tragic case of an Indian student, Janhvi Kandula, who lost her life after being struck by a police vehicle in the United States. The video reveals a police officer laughing and making light-hearted remarks during a phone call immediately after the incident.
The Incident occurred on January 23 when 23-year-old Janhvi Kandula, a student at Northeastern University in South Lake Union, was struck by a Seattle police car while walking near Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.
According to a report from KIRO 7 news channel, the body camera footage captures Seattle Police Officers Guild Vice President Daniel Auderer driving and engaging in a phone conversation with Guild President Mike Solon. In the video, Auderer is heard saying, "There was no particular value" regarding Kandula immediately after the incident. Shockingly, he adds, "That's normal" while laughing, and suggests writing a check for $11,000.
A Police Investigation conducted in June revealed that the officer was driving at a speed of 74 miles per hour while on the phone when he struck Kandula, who tragically fell over 100 feet.
In response to the surfacing of this disturbing video, the Seattle Police Department (SPD) issued a statement, explaining that the footage was discovered by a department employee during a routine operation and subsequently provided to Chief Adrian Diaz. The video has since been forwarded to the Office of Police Accountability (OPA) for a thorough review. SPD has emphasized its commitment to transparency and noted that they will refrain from commenting on the video until the OPA completes its investigation.
Janhvi Kandula, who had traveled to the United States from Adoni in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh in 2021, leaves behind grieving family members. Ashok Mandula, a relative residing in Texas, expressed the family's profound sorrow and disbelief, saying, "The family has nothing to say... except I wonder if these men’s daughters or granddaughters have value. A life is a life."