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Journalism of Courage
A woman whose daughter was killed during a trip to India with her NRI fiance two years ago has been awarded $4 million by a US court in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Judge Isabel B. Stark of a New Jersey court, awarded the sum to Madeleine Swiderski, who had sued NRI businessman Pragnesh Desai, claiming he was liable for the death of 33-year-old Leona, an aspiring model. Desai maintains his innocence and is fighting extradition from India.
He and Leona flew to India in February 2003, a few weeks before they planned to get married. Leona disappeared shortly after the plane landed in Mumbai and her body was found days later near a highway. Desai was later charged with hiring a childhood friend to kill Leona to collect $1 million in life insurance.
Although the pair was acquitted at a trial in India, authorities there are appealing.
Desai moved to the US 20 years ago and owns conveniences stores in New Jersey and a stake in two restaurants in Manhattan. The judgement consists of $1 million for pain and suffering and $3 million for economic losses, including an estimate of the amount of money Leona would have made throughout her life.
