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NJ Doctor Accused Of Plotting To Kill Wife, Lover & Business Partner Using Hit Men

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- An Englewood doctor was charged Friday with attempting to hire hit men to kill his wife, a lover and a former business partner, New Jersey officials said.

Attorney General Paula Dow and Criminal Justice Director Stephen Taylor announced that 63-year-old Dr. Ajit Jayaram, a licensed physician with a practice in Jersey City, faces three counts of first-degree attempted murder and three counts of first-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

Jayaram had initially been arrested following a Medicaid fraud investigation. As authorities investigated further, they uncovered information indicating that the doctor had tried to hire an acquaintance to kill lover Radha Ramaswamy and pharmacist Ahmed Mukhtar.

The Attorney General's office said Jayaram owed Ramaswamy $250,000 and had concerns that his wife would learn of their affair. Mukhtar and the accused man apparently had a previous failed business relationship in addition to ongoing disputes.

Officials also said while Jayaram was behind bars at the Hudson County Jail, he allegedly attempted to hire a fellow inmate to kill his wife, Sarasavani Jayaram. The doctor apparently believed that his wife would leave him and take his money if she learned of his affair with another woman.

Jayaram remains in jail on $2.5 million bail. Each attempted murder and conspiracy charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

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