Indian in hit-and-run charged

Luxury car not under suspect’s name

MANILA, Philippines - Police yesterday filed charges against an Indian-Filipino businessman who allegedly figured in a hit-and-run that killed a motorcycle driver in Makati City after he failed to surrender. 

Rajiv Ramesh Dargani, president of Sunglass Hut Philippines, was slapped with charges of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide, physical injuries and abandonment of one’s victim with the Makati prosecutor’s office, according to city police chief Senior Superintendent Manuel Lukban.

Lukban said a representative of Dargani requested that police not directly file the case as he would surrender, but he failed to show up.

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 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, 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.

Porsche, not Audi

The luxury car driven by Dargani was not an R8 Audi but a Porsche, a check with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) showed yesterday.

The LTO said the black two-door Porsche Carrera was not registered under the name of the Indian-Filipino businessman. Its registered owner is a certain Joey Valencia of San Juan City based on LTO records.

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.