Fil-Indian in Makati accident sends surrender feelers anew

MANILA, Philippines - The Filipino-Indian businessman who allegedly figured in a hit-and-run that killed a motorcycle driver in Makati City Saturday has assured the Makati City Police that he would “surrender soon.”

Makati City Police chief, Sr. Supt. Manuel Lukban,  said Rajiv Ramesh Dargani, president of Sunglass Hut Philippines, has again sent word through an emissary that he would surface soon. Sunglass Hut is a retailer of top brand sunglasses.

“According to the emissary, Dargani is just resting and is in hiding after he was allegedly traumatized by the incident,” said Lukban.

The Makati Police earlier said it was informed that Dargani is now confined in an unnamed hospital as relayed by his emissary, whom Lukban did not identify. The emissary, said Lukban is known in the local Indian business community and was the one who took care of the funeral and hospital needs of Dargani’s two victims.

Dargani earlier sent word to the Makati Police that he would be surrendering last Wednesday. He had failed to surrender prompting the police to directly file charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and abandonment of one’s victim with the Makati Prosecutor’s Office.

Lukban earlier aid a representative of Dargani requested that the businessman be given time because he would surrender.

Dargani was identified by witnesses as the driver of a luxury car that crashed into a motorcycle along McKinley Road at past 3 a.m. Saturday.

He was driving along McKinley Road on his way home to Dasmariñas Village from the Bonifacio Global City when he allegedly overtook another vehicle and hit a motorcycle on the opposite lane.

Motorcycle driver Henrix Bernardo died on the spot while his passenger, Glenn Nacion Jr., was critically injured, Lukban said.

He added that after the accident, Dargani allegedly did not stop and instead drove to Dasmariñas Village. However, Dargani left the village and has not been seen since.

Lukban said police officers went to Dargani’s house but neither he nor his car was there. He said the relatives of Dargani’s victims told police that they are not pursuing the case and have executed an affidavit of desistance.

A check with the Land Transportation Office later showed that the luxury car driven by Dargani was not an R8 Audi as earlier reported by the police but a black two-door Porsche Carrera.

The LTO records  also showed that the Porsche was registered to a certain Joey Valencia of San Juan City. Its last registration was April 12 this year.

Dargani’s name appeared twice on the LTO database of holders of driver’s license without his photo.