Englewood Doctor Admits Attempt to Have Lover, Business Partner Killed

A 65-year-old doctor from Englewood pleaded guilty Wednesday to trying to hire a hitman to kill his lover and business partner, the state Attorney General's Office said.

Dr. Ajit Jayaram, who has an internal medicine practice in Jersey City, admitted that between Aug. 28 and Oct. 10, 2010, he attempted to hire someone to kill his lover, Radha Ramaswamy, because he owed her $250,000 and was afraid his wife would learn of the affair, prosecutors said.

The doctor also sought to have pharmacist Mukhtar Ahmed killed, according to an Attorney General's Office news release. Jayaram and Ahmed were former partners in a failed business relationship and involved in ongoing disputes over a woman.

“Dr. Jayaram attempted to solve his business problems and cover up an extramarital affair with cold-blooded murder,” Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa said in a statement. 
 
In pleading guilty, Jayaram further admitted that he received payments from Medicaid for medical examinations and other procedures that were never done or not necessary, according to prosecutors.

“This office will follow an investigation wherever it leads, even unexpected routes such as this one in which Dr. Jayaram’s illegal activity escalated from Medicaid fraud to attempted murder,” Acting Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Ronald Chillemi said.

Jayaram, whose medical license was suspended in May 2011, will be sentenced April 12. Under a plea agreement, prosecutors plan to recommend that Jayaram be sentenced to nine years in state prison.

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