Indian Student Jaahnavi Kandula’s death: Seattle to pay Rs 262 crore in settlement world news

The family of Jahnavi Kandula, a 23-year-old Indian student killed in a Seattle police attack by a speeding police officer in 2021, has received a USD 29 million (Rs 262 crore) settlement from the city, her lawyer said on Thursday. This is a major victory after a years-long legal battle over the tragic incident, which sparked worldwide outrage.

In a statement issued after the agreement was finalized, City Attorney Erika Evans described Kandula’s death as heartbreaking and said the city hopes the financial settlement will offer some measure of closure to her family.

“Jaahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement brings some sense of closure to the Kandula family,” NDTV quoted City Attorney Erika Evans as saying.

“Jaahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, her friends and to our community.”

Under the terms of the agreement, the city’s insurance will cover approximately USD 20 million, while the city will pay the remaining amount directly. The settlement ends a lengthy legal battle and is one of the largest settlements in a case involving alleged police negligence in Seattle, as per an NDTV report.

Who was Jahnavi Kandula?

Kandula was from Andhra Pradesh and was pursuing a master’s degree at Northeastern University’s South Lake Union campus. She had traveled to the United States from Bengaluru in 2021 under a student exchange program and was scheduled to graduate later that year.

She was hit by a patrol vehicle driven by Officer Kevin Dave, who was responding to a drug overdose call. Investigators said he was driving at speeds of up to 119 kmph (74 mph) in a 40 kmph (25 mph) zone at the time of the crash.

Public criticism over the incident

The case prompted public criticism in 2023 after body camera footage surfaced showing another officer, Daniel Auderer, laughing and saying Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a check.” The remarks were widely condemned, including by members of the Indian community in the US.

A civilian oversight body later concluded that Auderer’s comments undermined public trust in the department. He was dismissed from service and has since filed a lawsuit alleging wrongful termination, stating that his remarks were intended to criticize how attorneys might handle the case.

Officer Dave was also dismissed. He was cited for negligent driving and fined $5,000. King County prosecutors declined to pursue felony charges, saying they could not establish criminal intent.