Fiscal set to rule on Indian businessman’s hit-and-run case

MANILA, Philippines - A case filed by the Makati City police against Filipino-Indian businessman Rajiv Ramesh Dargani is now up for resolution by city prosecutor Estefano de la Cruz.

Dargani is facing charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and abandonment of one’s victim after he figured in a hit-and-run along McKinley Road in Barangay Forbes Park last April 20.

After the police filed the complaints against Dargani before the office of the city prosecutor, the case was given to De la Cruz for resolution. A resolution of the case could either mean the filing of the case in court or the dismissal of the complaints.

Dargani has yet to appear before the police but his representative told them that he will face the charges. Dargani is the president of Sunglass Hut Philippines, a retailer of top brand sunglasses.

Witnesses identified Dargani as the driver of an Audi R8 that crashed into a motorcycle along McKinley Road at past 3 a.m.

Police said Dargani was driving along McKinley Road on his way home to Dasmariñas Village from the direction of 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, police said.

Police said Dargani allegedly did not stop and instead drove to Dasmariñas Village. However, Dargani left the village and has not been seen since.

Relatives of Dargani’s victims told police that they are not pursuing the case and have executed an affidavit of desistance.

Police, however, filed charges before the Makati City prosecutor’s office, saying that Dargani is still criminally liable for the incident.