Washington: The family of 23-year-old Indian student Jahnavi Kandula, who died in a road accident in Seattle, USA, two years ago, has received a huge amount of compensation. The accused American police officer has reached a settlement of $29 million (approximately Rs 262 crore) with the family of postgraduate student Jahnavi Kandula. Jahnavi died in 2023 after being hit by the car of this same American officer. After this, a case was registered against the accused officer, but now the case has ended after the blood money was paid.

Jahnavi Kandula was hit by US officer Kevin Dave, who was driving 119 km/h in a 40 km/h zone while responding to a drug overdose call. His emergency lights were on and his siren was blaring at intersections. “Jahnavi Kandula’s death was heartbreaking, and the city hopes this financial settlement will provide some sense of justice and closure to the Kandula family. Jahnavi Kandula’s life mattered. It mattered to her family, friends, and our community,” Seattle City Attorney Erica Evans said in a statement Wednesday.

Jhanvi was pursuing a master’s degree in information systems at Northeastern University’s Seattle campus. Lawyers for the Kandula family did not immediately respond to emails or phone calls for comment. The two sides filed a notice of settlement in King County Superior Court last Friday. Local news website PubliCola first reported the settlement. Jhanvi’s death sparked widespread outrage and protests, especially after a body camera recording from another officer surfaced showing Officer Daniel Orderer laughingly saying that Kandula’s life had “limited value” and that the city should “just write a check.” Indian diplomats demanded an investigation.

The police department also fired the officer at the wheel, Kevin Dave, who was charged with reckless driving and fined $5,000. King County prosecutors did not bring serious criminal charges against him because they could not prove he deliberately disregarded safety. The city’s insurance company is expected to cover the approximately $20 million settlement. The incident occurred on January 23, 2023, in the South Lake Union area, where Jahnavi was walking in a crosswalk. The family had filed a lawsuit against the city and the officer in 2024 for more than $110 million, alleging negligence, wrongful termination, and infliction of emotional distress. The settlement is the settlement of that lawsuit.