NRI asked to cough up $4 m in death suit

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.