Indian-origin businessman Vikram Beri was arrested in California after authorities say he tried to start a fire at a winery and later tried to flee the scene, crashing his Tesla into two parked vehicles. The 42-year-old allegedly threw a bottle of wine at staff who confronted him as he tried to light the fire.
According to a statement released by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office on X, Beri drove his Tesla off an embankment during the incident and refused to leave the vehicle despite several attempts to de-escalate. Deputies eventually deployed pellet guns and pepper spray, forcing him to “get out of the car” before being taken into custody.
Who is Vikram Beri?
According to his LinkedIn profile, Beri completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and later earned an MBA in marketing and strategy from the Indian School of Business. The Daily Mail described him as a millionaire.
Beri started his career as a consultant at Deloitte and worked in several organizations before entering the business. In 2016, he founded BetterLYF, a digital mental health platform that offers emotional health support. He is also an angel investor in several businesses, including Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters.
Currently based in Menlo Park, in addition to his business activities, Beri serves as the Executive Director of Business Development at Fieldking, a global agricultural equipment manufacturer.
The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said Beri was arrested at Garrod Farms Estate Winery & Stables in Saratoga on the afternoon of Dec. 8 local time. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest and was later taken to a hospital for evaluation.
Authorities have not released further details about what may have sparked the alleged fire attempt. The investigation is still ongoing.
