<p>Indian-American doctor, identified as Dharmesh Patel, won't be jailed for now after he allegedly attempted to kill his wife and two children by driving them off a cliff in his Tesla car in the United States.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Instead, the man will be given mental health treatment.</p>

<h2><strong>Here's how the incident unfolded&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Patel, who is a radiologist in California, drove his car with his wife Neha and two children, aged 7 and 4, off a cliff after he suffered a psychotic breakdown last year, said the psychologists in the court.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They added that Patel feared that his children faced the risk of getting sex trafficked which led him to crash the car.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After he drove the car off the cliff, the Tesla fell more than 250 feet. The family survived the crash and later people were rescued from the mangled car.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/half-of-indias-population-falls-short-on-physical-activity-study-735284">About Half of India's population falls short on physical activity: Study</a></p>

<p>Neha Patel accepted that her husband intentionally drove the car off the cliff but later accepted that she did not wish to prosecute her husband.</p>

<h2><strong>Man suffering from schizoaffective disorder: Doctors&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>As per the doctors, the accused suffered from schizoaffective disorder. He also had a major depressive disorder.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"He had been hearing footsteps and thought he was being followed in the weeks before the crash. It was paranoid and kind of delusional thinking that he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate," said a psychologist in the court.</p>

<p>"He was concerned that his children were at risk of being kidnapped, possibly for sexual molestation," he added.</p>

<h2><strong>What did the US court say?</strong></h2>

<p>A US court on Thursday (June 27) said that Patel was eligible for a 'mental health diversion' which permits an accused with mental illness who has committed a crime to receive mental health treatment and not serve time in jail.</p>

<p>As per the law, such a provision can only be considered if the illness has played a major role in the crime.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US explores Indian interest in lunar gateway</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-explores-indian-interest-in-lunar-gateway-733076/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>Superior Court Judge Susan M. Jakubowski said that Patel was eligible for the programme on the basis of the diagnosis of the doctors. She ordered his release and permitted him to go to his parents in California.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The man will be monitored using GPS and needs to report to the court once every week. He is also not permitted to travel abroad and needs to submit his driving license and passport. The next hearing of the case will happen on July 1.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian-American doctor, identified as Dharmesh Patel, won't be jailed for now after he allegedly attempted to kill his wife and two children by driving them off a cliff in his Tesla car in the United States.

Indian-American doctor, identified as Dharmesh Patel, won't be jailed for now after he allegedly attempted to kill his wife and two children by driving them off a cliff in his Tesla car in the United States. Instead, the man will be given mental health treatment. Here's how the incident unfolded Patel, who is a radiologist in California, drove his car with his wife Neha and two children, aged 7 and 4, off a cliff after he suffered a psychotic breakdown last year, said the psychologists in the court. They added that Patel feared that his children faced the risk of getting sex trafficked which led him to crash the car. After he drove the car off the cliff, the Tesla fell more than 250 feet. The family survived the crash and later people were rescued from the mangled car. Also Read: About Half of India's population falls short on physical activity: Study Neha Patel accepted that her husband intentionally drove the car off the cliff but later accepted that she did not wish to prosecute her husband. Man suffering from schizoaffective disorder: Doctors As per the doctors, the accused suffered from schizoaffective disorder. He also had a major depressive disorder. "He had been hearing footsteps and thought he was being followed in the weeks before the crash. It was paranoid and kind of delusional thinking that he acted on at the time to protect his family from a worse fate," said a psychologist in the court. "He was concerned that his children were at risk of being kidnapped, possibly for sexual molestation," he added. What did the US court say? A US court on Thursday (June 27) said that Patel was eligible for a 'mental health diversion' which permits an accused with mental illness who has committed a crime to receive mental health treatment and not serve time in jail. As per the law, such a provision can only be considered if the illness has played a major role in the crime. Watch: US explores Indian interest in lunar gateway Superior Court Judge Susan M. Jakubowski said that Patel was eligible for the programme on the basis of the diagnosis of the doctors. She ordered his release and permitted him to go to his parents in California. The man will be monitored using GPS and needs to report to the court once every week. He is also not permitted to travel abroad and needs to submit his driving license and passport. The next hearing of the case will happen on July 1. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian-origin doctor escapes imprisonment after driving wife, two children off cliff in US

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