Karthik Rajaram, 45, used a handgun he purchased Sept. 16, Moore said. The weapon was found still in his grasp, he said. The bodies of the man’s 39-year-old wife, 69-year-old mother-in-law Indra Ramasesham, and three sons — ages 19, 12 and 7 — were found inside the home’s various bedrooms.

Authorities report that the Rajaram, an financial advisor who had worked for major accounting firms in the past, had been unemployed for a few months now and become increasingly despondent. Police found three letters, addressed to the police, his friends and his extended family.

Moore said the several-page narrative appeared to have been written over a period of time. “This was something that was not a spur-of-the-moment type of event,” he said.

Our heart goes out to the Rajaram family. May their souls rest in peace.

Desi family found dead in San Fernando Valley - Über Desi

Soumya Reddy, a native of Muniyal village in Nirmal mandal of the district, was killed by the unidentified person in Chicago on Sunday, Adilabad district Superintendent of Police Anil Kumar said.(link)

The other cases were those of A Srinivas, a post-graduate medical student from Karimnagar ( UD coverage here ) and A Kirankumar and K Chandrasekhar Reddy, both PhD students from LSU ( UD coverage here )

UD wants all of our readers to stay safe!

UPDATE: The FBI has now joined the investigation ( tip:Chachaji).

Police said the FBI joined the case on Monday morning because the body of the Illinois resident was found in another state.(link)

The mystery has deepened with the finding of the body of another Indian student Vikram Kumar Tummala, 27 in Sunfish lake hours after Soumya’s body was found in a car near the lake’s boat ramp. Vikram was also found shot dead.

Police said they believe Vikram Tummala is related to Soumya Tummala, but is not her husband or brother. They lived at different addresses in Maryville.

St Louis County police did not discuss specific details and stopped short of calling the shootings a murder-suicide. But they said no one else was involved, according to the Post.(link)

Whatever the facts may be, our condolences to the families of both.

Another Indian student shot dead (updates) - Über Desi

Shelley with the Governator during happier times
img: via collintheatrecenter.com

Our Macaca Crimewatch section often features crimes against and/or by desis. These people are usually unknown entities who are thrust into the spotlight as victims or offenders. For the first time today, and sadly, we’re featuring a famous face, Kerala-born Hollywood actor Shelley Malil.

An actor (Shelley Malil) who appeared in “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” has been arrested for investigation of attempted murder after his former girlfriend was stabbed more than 20 times, leaving her critically injured, authorities said Tuesday.

E! has more on the incident. [E! Online]

The incident took place just before 9 p.m. Sunday at the victim’s home in San Marcos. Deputies of the San Diego Sheriff’s Department appeared on the scene after receiving reports of a woman screaming and hearing the shattering of glass.

Officials told San Diego’s NBC affiliate, KNSD-TV, that Malil arrived at the home and found his ex-girlfriend in her backyard with another man, when he suddenly grabbed a knife and began stabbing her, subsequently chasing her through her home. When the unidentified male companion attempted to intervene, he was also stabbed in the hand.

What is so disturbing is the viciousness of the attack.

“Her chin was almost entirely cut off,” neighbor Charleton Lee, who rushed to her aid and attempted to stop the bleeding, told KNSD. “She had a huge gash in her arm that looked like a really deep wound that was bleeding profusely.”

The victim is expected to make a full recovery. But Malil is in deep trouble.

The 43-year-old actor, who has also appeared in Scrubs, Seinfeld and NYPD Blue, was arrested after deboarding a train in Oceanside, Calif., around 6 p.m. Monday.

Malil had taken the train from Los Angeles in order to meet with his attorney, who had reportedly encouraged the actor, along with family and friends, to turn himself in to authorities.

Besides blockbuster movies like Collateral Damage and The 40 Year Old Virgin, Malil has also appeared on numerous TV shows - Seinfeld, West Wing, NYPD Blue, Without a Trace, Aliens in America and Scrubs - and ad campaigns like Bud Light (remember, “Vaat are youuuu doing?”).

The following video is a montage of Shelley’s performances from movies and television, sort of a “Best of Shelley” or “Worst Indian accents ever”, depending on your perspective.

Shelley Malil arrested - Über Desi

Photo of the deceased
img: via MyFox Philly [Video]

Indian-American manager of Dunkin Donuts shot dead - Über Desi

Watch it unfold on the video below. [via]

Convenience store clerk shot dead in Arizona - Über Desi

According to Orange County sheriff’s deputies, “mole entry” was made into the House of Spice from its roof and four other businesses were accessed when the assailants broke through drywall.

The “mole trail” ended at the Rivaz Jewelry Store, where another hole through the roof was located, deputies said.

Here’s the weird part:

None of the five business owners reported anything missing, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

The 5 businesses include stores that deal in groceries, jewelery, videos and clothing, are part of a single strip mall and almost exclusively deal in Indian and South Asian goods. File this under “Weird stuff happening to desis in the US”.

Desi stores broken into, not burglarized - Über Desi

It is alleged that the specialist doctor carried out a sexual act on himself while in the water at Wolverhampton Swimming and Fitness Centre, Wednesfield, on May 22.

The public pool is a favourite with families and young children, and it is believed the venue was packed when Mr George allegedly carried out the offence.

Yuck and Blecch!

Predictably, the doctor claims that this was a misunderstanding .The doctor has since left England for India where he is being treated at a private clinic.

Don’t touch that! - Part 2 - Über Desi

Really, how much lower can one sink?

Thoughts? Opinions?

Desi jailed for siphoning 9/11 funds - Über Desi

Desi guilty of trade secret theft - Über Desi

Even Dr, ,Evil says one million dollars is not enough reparations for slavery
img: via Wiki

The Sabhnanis, who own an international perfumes business, were accused of holding two Indonesian women against their will and torturing them, in what has come to be known as the “Muttontown Slavery Case”. Last week, a judge ruled that the two victims were entitled to double the wages owed to them by the Sabhnanis.

A multi-millionaire Indian American couple, already sentenced to jail for virtually enslaving two Indonesian maids, has been ordered by a US court to pay nearly $1 million in back wages to the women.

The Sabhnanis, who run an international perfumes business, have been ordered to pay Samirah, who worked for them from Feb 2002 to May 2007, $620,744, while Enung, who worked at their house from Jan 2005 to May 2007 is owed $315,802.

And what kind of treatment were the victims subject to?

The women, who were brought as household helps from Indonesia, had testified in court that they were beaten with brooms and umbrellas, slashed with knives and forced to take cold water showers for perceived ”mistakes”.

You would think that for that kind of treatment even $1million seems like a small amount. Not, so says the Sabhnanis lawyer.

While the prosecutors had claimed that the actual wages amounted to $1.1 million, the Sabhnanis’ defence lawyers said that figure was vastly exaggerated and pared it down to $214,000.

Bargaining, even when guilty, desi ishtyle.

And where will the Sabhnanis get this million dollars from? From the sale of their home, thinks Judge Spatt.

Judge Spatt also said the federal government could seize not only the Sabhnanis’ house, but also an attached office of the couple’s multimillion-dollar perfume company. The estimate value of the home and office is $2 million.

Kind of optimistic, considering the state of the real estate market these days.

So what do our readers think? Is double wages enough compensation for slavery and torture?

Other posts on the “Muttontown Slavery Case” [1,2,3].

Sabhnanis order to pay $1 million to maids - Über Desi