US authorities on Wednesday (February 22, 2024) said the Seattle cop who stuck and killed Indian student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an overdose call will not face any criminal charges due to 'lack of evidence'.

King County Prosecuting Attorney said in a statement as quoted by Kiro7: " It is the responsibility of the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (PAO) to review all available evidence relating to the case involving Seattle Police Officer Kevin Dave and the January 2023 collision death of Jaahnavi Kandula. After staffing this case with senior deputy prosecuting attorneys and office leadership, I have determined that we lack sufficient evidence under Washington State law to prove a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt."

Cop's remark triggered massive outrage

The alleged remarks of an American cop over the death of an Indian student, Jaahnavi Kandula, revealed in a viral video, had triggered massive outrage.

In a video, recovered from a body-worn camera of vice-president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild, Daniel Auderer, the cop reportedly said Kandula had ‘little value’ and the city should write her kins a cheque.

“Yeah, just write a check. Eleven thousand dollars. She was 26 anyway…She had limited value,” Auderer is heard talking about the accident in a call with the guild's president Mike Solan.

He laughed several times after saying “she is dead”.

The accused driver, Kevin Dave, reportedly was driving the car at 74 mph (119 kmph) on the way to a report of an overdose when he hit Kandula at the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street.

The student was rushed to Harborview Medical Center, where she succumbed to her injuries.

Who was Jaahnavi Kandula?

Jaahnavi Kandula, 23, an Indian student from Andhra Pradesh, who was studying in Northeast University.