A wealthy tech founder accused of a destructive rampage at a luxury Californian winery has been permitted by a judge to execute a $1 million stock trade while incarcerated in San Jose Main Jail.
The Chaotic Winery Incident and Arrest
Vikram Beri, 42, from Palo Alto, was arrested on December 6 following a violent altercation at the Garrod Farms Estate Winery & Stables in Napa Valley. Authorities reported that the mental health startup founder allegedly attempted to start a fire, assaulted staff by throwing a wine bottle, and then fled the scene in his white Tesla.
In his attempt to escape, Beri is accused of intentionally crashing into two parked vehicles, sending one over an embankment before driving his own car over the edge. When police arrived, he reportedly barricaded himself inside the wrecked Tesla, resisting several de-escalation attempts and forcing officers to use PepperBall and spray to subdue him. He was subsequently taken to hospital for evaluation before being remanded in custody.
An Unusual Emergency Financial Motion
While held without access to his mobile phone, which was seized by the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, Beri faced the potential loss of over $1 million in stock options set to expire within days. His brother and attorney, David Callaway, filed an emergency motion on December 16 requesting supervised access to Beri’s Merrill Edge investment account.
Callaway admitted the request was "unusual" but argued to the court that "a defendant’s arrest should not, unnecessarily, cause him to lose over $1 million simply because he lacks access to his cellphone." Judge Griffin Bonini approved the motion, ordering the sheriff’s office to allow Beri’s brother, who had flown in from India, supervised and recorded access to the account to complete the transaction before the deadline.
Charges and Broader Context
Vikram Beri currently faces charges of assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest. Beyond his mental health startup, he is also listed as the Executive Director of Business Development at FieldKing, a global agricultural equipment manufacturer.
It remains unclear whether the high-value stock transaction was successfully completed before the options expired. The Daily Mail has reached out to attorney David Callaway for further comment on the case's proceedings.
This incident highlights the complex intersection of criminal justice and financial asset management, where the courts are occasionally compelled to make exceptional allowances to prevent substantial financial loss for an individual awaiting trial, irrespective of the severity of the allegations against them.
