A Louisiana doctor is facing aggravated manslaughter charges after prosecutors say she stood by and watched a 7-year-old boy drown in an Orlando community pool while ordering other children to attempt a rescue.
Sukanthini Subbiah, 48, was booked into Orange County Jail on Monday following an extensive investigation into the April 10 death of Khushil Bandi at the Everbe Clubhouse pool, according to court records. Subbiah, a physician, had been visiting family in the Everbe neighborhood and brought Khushil, his twin sister, and her own son to the pool for a play date.
Surveillance footage showed the children entered the water at 6:19 p.m., and within a minute, Khushil had begun “splashing vigorously” and drowning, the arrest warrant affidavit stated. Rather than entering the water herself, Subbiah allegedly sent the two other children to help him while she watched from the poolside.
The boy remained submerged for approximately seven minutes before Subbiah finally alerted another adult poolgoer, who jumped in to retrieve him, the warrant said. The other two children had begun “yelling and screaming” as the situation unfolded. Subbiah attempted CPR afterward, but Khushil succumbed to his injuries.
Police initially treated the drowning as accidental. However, after conducting interviews and reviewing the surveillance footage, investigators concluded that Subbiah’s “culpably negligent” conduct caused Khushil’s death.
“Subbiah was the sole adult responsible for the decedent, was present while the emergency unfolded, had the knowledge and opportunity to recognize the danger, and had the ability to intervene,” a detective wrote in the affidavit.
“Her failure to do so allowed the decedent’s submersion and oxygen deprivation to continue until another adult ultimately performed the rescue she had failed to undertake,” investigators added.
Subbiah’s defense attorney, Rajan Joshi, told WFTV that she intends to fight the charges.
“Accidents do happen every day. We don’t see criminal liability in this case,” Joshi said.
“This is a person who’s dedicated her life to saving people’s lives, has a good heart, and never had any problems with the law,” Joshi continued. “She plans on fighting these charges in court.”
The case has drawn particular attention given Subbiah’s medical background and the prolonged duration of the incident captured on camera. Prosecutors are expected to present the surveillance footage as central evidence in proceedings against the Louisiana physician.