Month: May 2025

CLEVELAND, OH (TIP):  Two Indian students from Cleveland State University tragically lost their lives in a car crash on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Lancaster County on the morning of Saturday, May 10, 2025. The victims have been identified as 23-year-old Saurav Prabhakar and 20-year-old Manav Patel, both residents of Cleveland, Ohio. According to the Lancaster County Coroner’s Office, the crash occurred around 7:51 a.m. near mile marker 286 eastbound in East Cocalico Township.
Emergency responders arrived to find the vehicle engulfed in flames. Prabhakar, who was driving, and Patel, the passenger, were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 8:30 a.m.
Investigators said the car left the roadway, struck a tree, and then collided with a bridge. Both students lived at the same address on East 13th Street in Cleveland, Ohio.
Their bodies were transported to the Lancaster County Forensic Center for autopsies, which confirmed they died from multiple traumatic injuries. The coroner’s office ruled both deaths accidental.
Originally from India, Prabhakar and Patel were pursuing higher education at Cleveland State University. The university and the broader Indian student community have expressed deep grief over the tragic loss.

DALLAS, TX (TIP): Repairify, a Texas-based major automotive technology and intelligence solutions brand working to revolutionize vehicle care, has appointed Indian American Srisu Subrahmanyam as its chief executive officer. Repairify hopes to add value to its services under the stewardship of Subrahmanyam, “a high-impact, customer-focused senior executive with global experience across public and private companies in diverse industries,” according to a company release.
“He has a proven track record of leading large-scale business transformations, driving operational excellence, and accelerating growth in international markets,” said the company, which made headlines in the field of auto glass and collision repair last year,
He most recently served as executive vice president of operations and president, services and international markets at Openlane, one of the world’s largest digital, used vehicle marketplaces and technology providers. He focused on achieving growth through the implementation of technology and automation and led the digital transformation of Openlane after the sale of Adesa US to Carvana.

“As a longtime customer of asTech and BlueDriver, I’ve experienced the real-world value Repairify brings through its advanced diagnostics and calibration solutions,” Subrahmanyam said. “I’m excited to lead this next chapter — through product innovation, operational excellence, and a renewed focus on solving our customers’ problems — to drive growth and deliver even greater value.”
He previously was the global vice president of engineering at Ingram Micro, chief operating officer of BrightPoint Americas, and leadership positions with Orchard Group and Career Education Corporation. At United Airlines, he rose to vice president of Continuous Improvement, founding the airline’s performance management office and embedding operational excellence company-wide. He began his career at Advanced Process Combinatorics, leading supply chain modeling for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
Subrahmanyam has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University and a B.E. (Honors) in Chemical Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science, India.

NEW YORK (TIP): Urvashi Shivdasani, an Indian American finance executive with over two decades of cross-industry expertise has joined creative agency R/GA as its new Global Chief Financial Officer.
“Exciting news: I’ve joined R/GA as Global Chief Financial Officer. After an unforgettable chapter at Huge, I’m energized to bring my experience and passion to a dynamic and innovative company,” she posted on LinkedIn.
“The timing couldn’t be better – R/GA is forging a bold path as an independent agency, and I’m thrilled to help shape what comes next in this new intelligence age. Let’s build something extraordinary!”
Shivdasani will partner closely with Global CEO Robin Forbes and the global leadership team to evolve the agency’s financial strategy and help drive the implementation and success of a more flexible and output-oriented commercial agency model, the agency announced.
Her appointment marks the first global C-suite hire since R/GA’s return to independence as a privately owned company following the new partnership between R/GA’s management and private equity firm Truelink Capital.
Shivdasani, the announcement stated, will play a crucial role in strategically implementing R/GA’s newly established $50 million Innovation Fund.
“Urvashi’s extensive experience and strategic acumen will be invaluable as we chart R/GA’s course as an independent agency and activate a new commercial model based on outcomes and not hours,” said Forbes. “Her track record of driving financial success and operational excellence will be critical as we continue to invest in innovation and new ways of working.”
“I’m thrilled to join R/GA at this pivotal moment in its history,” said Shivdasani. “The agency’s commitment to innovation and its bold vision for the future was an incredibly compelling opportunity, and one I can’t wait to be involved in. I look forward to partnering with Robin and the leadership team to continue to build a growth organization for the long term that drives creativity and innovation for our clients”
Shivdasani joins R/GA from Huge, where, as Global CFO, she led all aspects of finance and operations, including accounting, FP&A, real estate, commercial finance, resource management, and information technology, and played a critical role in the successful sale of the company to private equity. Prior to her time at Huge, she held senior finance roles at Ralph Lauren and Discovery Communications.

RICHMOND, VA (TIP): Virginia Assembly’s Indian American Delegate J.J. Singh’s proposal to provide $55 million in tuition relief for students at Virginia’s public universities and community colleges has been signed into law.
The measure included in the final state budget released last week with bipartisan support is aimed at easing the financial burden on college students and their families.
“Now, more than ever, we need to invest in our next generation and ensure every Virginia student can achieve the American dream,” Singh, who represents Southeastern Loudoun County, posted on X.
Singh who was sworn in earlier this year after winning a closely watched special election, pointed to the steep rise in tuition costs as a critical issue facing families across the Commonwealth.
“When I went to the University of Virginia, tuition, room, and board cost just $15,000 per year; now it’s over $40,000,” Singh wrote. “The rise in tuition is an epidemic plaguing the entire Commonwealth, and the country, for that matter. Students and families can’t afford it. For any parents who can help, they have to choose whether to help their children or fund their own retirement.”
The $55 million in tuition relief will be directed toward Virginia’s public universities and community colleges, with the aim of reducing student debt and making higher education more accessible.
“As elected officials, we have a duty to invest in the future of our Commonwealth, and no investment is more important than the education of the next generation,” Singh stated.
Singh, the son of Indian immigrants and the first turbaned Sikh to serve in the U.S. Peace Corps, previously worked in the Obama administration’s Office of Management and Budget. His focus on affordability and access has resonated with voters and colleagues alike during his first term in office.

MISSISSAUGA (TIP) : A 50-year-old Punjabi businessman was shot dead outside his office in Mississauga, Canada, officials said on Thursday, May 15.
According to sources, Harjit Singh Dhadda was shot dead near the intersection of Telford Way and Derry Road. The incident has sent shockwaves through the local community, marking the sixth murder in the city since the beginning of the year. The Peel Regional Police have yet to officially confirm the victim’s identity.
According to eyewitness accounts, Dhadda was near his car when unidentified assailants, believed to have been lying in wait, approached and fired 15-16 rounds before fleeing the scene. People in the parking lot ran for cover during the gunfire. An eyewitness said the gunmen exited a parked car, fired several shots at close range, and fled in the same vehicle. A nearby law firm employee reported that a stray bullet entered their office and hit an empty chair—just moments after he had stood up, narrowly avoiding injury.
Dhadda was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but later succumbed to his injuries.
Police spokesperson Michael Stafford confirmed that the case has been handed over to investigators and that nearby CCTV footage is being reviewed in an effort to identify the suspects.
Dhadda, originally from Bajpur district in Uttarakhand, had migrated to Canada nearly 30 years ago. He went on to become a prominent businessman in the trucking services industry.
Close associates, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Dhadda had recently received threats from Indian phone numbers. The threats had deeply unsettled him, and Peel Police had reportedly issued prior warnings concerning his safety.

NEW YORK (TIP) : Indian-origin techie Vishnu Irigireddy was among the three persons killed in a tragic climbing accident in Washington state’s North Cascades Range of western North America.
Vishnu, 48, a resident of Seattle, was attempting to climb North Early Winters Spire area of the Cascades along with his three friends, Tim Nguyen, 63, Oleksander Martynenko, 36 and Anton Tselykh, 38, on Saturday when the accident happened, NBC News reported.
The group noticed a storm coming and started to retreat when at some point during their descent, the team’s anchor point failed and sent the group plunging 200 feet down, Climbing website reported.
Tselykh, the sole surviving climber, miraculously survived the dangerous fall and drove 64 kilometers to inform the authorities about the accident that killed his three friends.
Vishnu’s friends and family describe him as an experienced climber “who found joy and purpose in nature.” “Originally from India and a proud member of Seattle’s vibrant tech and cultural community, Vishnu built a life that reflected his values—integrity, compassion, and a relentless pursuit of growth,” a note by family and friends on remembr.com website said.
According to a notice for his cremation ceremony, to be held on Thursday, his friends and family would be making donations to two non-profits to honor Vishnu, who they said had “developed an intense passion for mountaineering and climbing throughout his life.” They also made an appeal to others to donate to those charitable organizations till May 22.
Vishnu was working as Vice President of Engineering at Fluke Corporation, a test equipment manufacturing company in the Greater Seattle Area.
His company described him as an extraordinary leader in a statement released after his death adding that his loss “felt profoundly” across the organization.
Tselykh is currently in hospital and is being treated for internal bleeding and a traumatic brain injury.
North Early Winters Spire, a granite peak in the Liberty Bell group of the North Cascades, is popular among experienced climbers.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Badar Khan Suri, an Indian postdoctoral fellow at Georgetown University, has been released from U.S. immigration detention following a ruling by U.S. District Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles that his prolonged detention likely violated constitutional protections. Suri was arrested in March 2025 amid a crackdown on foreign students accused of supporting Hamas or promoting antisemitism.

Suri’s J-1 visa had been revoked by the Department of Homeland Security, citing pro-Palestinian social media posts and familial connections—specifically, a father-in-law who once served as an advisor to Hamas. Despite no direct evidence linking Suri to any criminal activity, federal agents detained him, sparking outrage among civil rights groups and the academic community.
Judge Giles ordered Suri’s release on personal recognizance, stating that political speech—even by non-citizens—is protected under the First Amendment. She found the government’s justification for his detention lacking and emphasized that Suri posed no threat to the community.
Speaking to media after his release, a visibly emotional Suri said, “Justice delayed is justice denied. It took two months, but I’m extremely thankful that finally I’m free.” He described his arrest as “Kafkaesque,” recounting how masked, plainclothed officers apprehended him outside his apartment without explanation.
“They made a subhuman out of me. They took me from one center to another, not letting my family know, not letting me know that I have attorneys,” he said.
Suri also expressed empathy for others still in detention: “I feel bad for the students who are still inside.” A scholar of global conflict and religious relations, he added, “I’ve studied conflict around the world and have sympathies for Jews and Arabs. I thank Jewish people and rabbis who came out in support of me,” AP quoted him as saying.
Suri, who came to the U.S. in 2022 for a fellowship at Georgetown’s Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, is married to a U.S. citizen and is father to three children. While he is now reunited with his family in Virginia, deportation proceedings against him remain pending.
His legal team has vowed to fight the case, calling his detention retaliatory and unconstitutional. The outcome may set important precedents for academic freedom and the rights of international scholars in the United States.

WALTHAM, MA (TIP): A Bentley University senior, Gaurav Jaisingh, tragically died after falling from a hotel balcony during a senior class trip to the Bahamas, just days before his scheduled graduation. Bentley University is a private institution located in Waltham, Massachusetts, approximately 10 miles west of downtown Boston.
The incident occurred around 10 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 11, at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and Casino. Jaisingh was in his hotel room with roommates when he accidentally fell from an upper-level balcony. He was found unresponsive on a lower floor and succumbed to his injuries while being transported to the hospital.
Originally from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, Jaisingh was pursuing a bachelor’s degree in finance with a minor in computer information systems. He had recently completed a summer internship at FactSet and was actively involved in various student organizations, including the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi and the South Asian Students Association.
Bentley University described his death as an “enormous tragedy” and extended its deepest condolences to his family, friends, and loved ones. The university is providing support resources to community members affected by this loss.
Local authorities in the Bahamas are continuing to investigate the incident, which is believed to have been accidental.
This heartbreaking event has cast a somber shadow over Bentley University’s upcoming commencement ceremony, scheduled for May 17, 2025. Fellow students have expressed shock and sorrow over the loss of their classmate, remembering him as a bright and ambitious individual.