Tech Company CEO Rajalakshmi Killed In An Accident While Jogging Near Worli

Rajalakshmi Ramkrishnan, CEO of a tech firm and an avid runner, was killed by a speeding SUV on Sunday when she was out for a jog near Worli Sea Face. The 58-year-old CEO, who was fondly called Raji by her friends, had recently completed the Tata Mumbai Marathon.

The accused, Sumer Merchant, who was driving the SUV, a white Tata Nexon, has been arrested and will be produced in court on Monday.

The incident happened around 6.30 am on Sunday when Rajalakshmi, a resident of Dadar, was out for a run. 23-year-old Sumer Merchant, who lives in the Tardeo area, was driving towards Dadar to drop off his friends. Three others, including two female colleagues who attended Merchant’s party on Saturday night, were in the vehicle.

Rajalakshmi Ramkrishnan Tech CEO Killed

DCP Akbar Pathan said that apparently the accused was driving at a very high speed and lost control of the car. The car was driven at 120km/hour reportedly. The SUV had hit a divider near Worli Parsi Dairy and hit Rajalakshmi from behind. She was flung almost 20 feet away. She fell on the ground face down causing fatal injuries to her head, resulting in her instant demise.

Bystanders rushed Rajalakshmi to Nair hospital where she was declared dead. Later, her body was sent to Poddar Hospital for post-mortem.

Locals held Merchant, who had also sustained injuries from the accident and handed him over to the Worli police.

An FIR was registered under the IPC sections 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act (driving at a dangerous speed). The accused will appear in court on Monday. The vehicle which was in a completely shattered state has been sent to the Regional Transport Office for inspection.

DCP Pathan also said that blood samples of the accused have been taken to find out if he had been under the influence of alcohol while driving.

Rajalakshmi had been regularly jogging for the past 17 years. She had been running with a friend when this incident occurred.

Merchant had told the police that he was working for a Bollywood company that was involved in talent hunting.

Suggested Reading: Chennai: Engineer Run Over By Truck Because Of ‘Bad Road’