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Hindustan Times
08-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Charred beyond recognition, Indian family of 4 killed in US crash was on way home from road trip
The Indian family of a couple and their two kids, who died in a car crash in the US, were burnt beyond recognition as they could not find any time to escape their SUV, report have emerged. The family had been living in an area in Dallas, and were returning from a visit to some relatives, reports said.(X/@NewsMeter_In) The SUV ran head-on into a truck being driven on the wrong side of the road in the horrific accident on a highway in Greene County near Dallas, Texas, on Sunday, July 6. The victims were reported to be Venkat Bejugam (aka Sri Venkat), his wife Tejaswini Cholleti and their two children, Siddarth and Mrida Bejugam – all pronounced dead on the spot. On X, viral posts about the crash included one with a video that showed a large SUV on fire. HT could not independently verify the authenticity of the video. Police did not immediately name the victims as only the bones remained by the time fire tenders could put out the blaze. The family, on a summer road trip, had been living in the US for some time, at Sutton Fields in Aubrey, near Dallas, and had just spent a week with extended family in Atlanta. They were on their way back to Dallas, and were not very far from home, when the crash happened, according to NRI Pulse. They reportedly belong to Hyderabad's sister city, Secunderabad. A welfare organisation called TEAM Aid is working with the authorities and the Indian consulate to have the bodies sent to India, multiples outlets reported. Texas has seen similar accidents in which NRIs have lose their lives. In September 2024, four Indians were killed in Anna, Texas, when a speeding truck hit their SUV from behind at hight speed, causing it to burst into flames. Barely a month before that, an Indian couple and their daughter died in a blaze after a car accident in Texas; their son survived the accident.
India Today
14-05-2025
- India Today
Drew solace from Gita, says Indian-American in jail for 47 days in false kidnapping case
Mahendra Patel, a 57-year-old Indian-origin engineer, who was accused in a false kidnapping case, said he found comfort in the teachings of the Bhagvad Gita during his 47 days in the Cobb County Jail in Georgia. He said even a white inmate sought a copy of the Hindu who said he was shocked by his arrest, was released on a USD 10,000 bond after spending 47 days in Indian-American was accused by 26-year-old Caroline Miller of trying to abduct her two-year-old child at a Walmart store on March 18. He walked out of jail on a bond on May 6. Talking to reporters outside the courthouse, the 57-year-old said, "It feels great. Finally, I am out.""I am so happy to be back with my family — my daughters, my circle," Atlanta-based news portal, NRI Pulse, quoted Patel as MAN SOUGHT A COPY OF GITA, SAYS PATELWhile in jail, Patel said he relied on faith and inner strength to persevere. He spent time reading the Bhagavad Gita, the sacred Hindu scripture, NRI Pulse moment that stood out to him was when a white inmate saw him reading the book and asked if he could have a copy, according to the told him, Of course. We'll send you 10 if you want. It felt like a bigger, deeper message," Patel credited his daughter, Elena, for leading efforts to organise legal aid and raise public awareness while he was incarcerated. He also expressed gratitude to her and his attorney, Ashley Merchant, for their relentless support.A petition urging his release collected more than 47,000 signatures and attracted widespread support from across the his gratitude to the people who extended their support to him, Patel said he was deeply moved by the show of solidarity."I am overwhelmed. I don't know how I will ever repay the support I have received," he being asked about the accusations and statements made by Caroline Miller, Patel chose not to respond directly, most likely because the case was he said, "We take everything in life positively. Whatever comes, it's her karma. We go on with our life."HE IS ENTITLED TO A BOND: JUDGEAccording to the police complaint, Patel was accused of trying to grab the toddler from Miller, riding a motorised cart with her two Patel has maintained his innocence, saying he only reached out to ensure the child didn't fall off the cart after Miller helped direct him to the Tylenol section for his mother's denied bond, Patel's legal team presented surveillance footage from the store, which they say shows no signs of force or an attempt to flee the scene. The footage, although partially obscured, was enough for Cobb County Superior Court Judge A Gregory Poole to grant Patel's release, stating, "I'm going to grant this man a bond. He's entitled to a bond."
