US court dismisses charges against Indian-origin doctor
Mental health treatment instead of trial
Family reunited after treatment
An Indian-origin physician charged with trying to kill his family by driving a Tesla off a 250-foot cliff in California in 2023 has seen all criminal counts dropped after completing a two-year court-ordered mental health diversion program. According to the Associated Press, a San Mateo County judge dismissed the charges on Monday following the 45-year-old doctor’s successful treatment, which involved care from a Stanford University psychiatrist and a family therapist.
The doctor had faced three counts of attempted murder for driving the vehicle off the cliff at Devil’s Slide on the Pacific Coast Highway on January 2, 2023. His wife and their two children, then aged 4 and 7, were passengers. All survived the incident, which authorities called an absolute miracle.
San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe noted that state law required dismissal of the case upon completion of the program. He explained that under California’s mental health diversion statute, defendants who finish court-mandated treatment have charges cleared. Prosecutors had opposed the diversion, claiming attempted murder should not qualify, and said they would seek future legislative changes.
In 2024, a judge approved eligibility after evidence showed the doctor suffered episodic major depression with hallucinations. Psychiatrists testified he experienced a psychotic episode and held delusions about his children being kidnapped. After arrest, he stayed in jail without bail until released in 2024 for outpatient care, living with parents under GPS monitoring and other restrictions. Conditions eased over time, allowing gradual reunification with his family in the Bay Area. His wife had earlier told the court she forgave him and opposed prosecution. After dismissal, the couple left the courthouse together.
