By Justin Muszynski
Associate Professor of English Ravi Shankar was arrested on Nov. 5 on four charges in relation to a car accident that he was involved in.
Shankar was charged with illegally operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, evading responsibility, failure to drive in the proper lane and illegally operating a motor vehicle without minimum insurance.
His arraignment took place on Nov. 22 and, according to the State of Connecticut’s Judicial Branch website, he has not yet entered a plea.
Shankar was traveling eastbound on Route 40 and was in the shoulder of two lanes when he struck a car in the rear, according to the accident information summary. He evaded the scene and was later found by the police, who conducted a K9 track in the woods near the scene of the accident.
Shankar was then taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital for minor injuries. He was released on a $10,000 non-surety bond.
A non-surety bond means that the Shankar signed an official document saying he would definitely be at his next court date and if he didn’t appear, for whatever reason, a warrant would go out for his arrest and he would have to pay the $10,000.
Shankar was also arrested in September on four separate charges related to a case of fraud that he was allegedly involved in. Those legal proceedings are ongoing and he is scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on December 2.
Mark McLaughlin, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications at CCSU, says that because the case is pending the University cannot comment.
The driver and passenger of the car that Shankar struck were both taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital as well for minor injuries.
Shankar’s next court date in relation to the motor vehicle charges he faces is Dec. 5 in Meriden Superior Court.