A La Jolla eye doctor arrested on suspicion of domestic violence and prescription medication fraud has hired a public relations firm to tell his side of the story.
Manoj V. Motwani, 39, hired Walcher Communications to tell the public the details of his arrest, which occurred about 9 a.m. April 11, when the California Highway Patrol concluded its ongoing investigation by taking Motwani into custody at his Darlington Row home, Walcher said.
Last October, Motwani and his live-in girlfriend scuffled on the side of a San Diego freeway, said CHP Sgt. Robert Hoeffs. Officers interviewed Motwani and then let him go.
“There’s a domestic violence incident in October of last year that occurred on the freeway,” Hoeffs said. “Based on that, plus additional information about a prescription violation, we [arrested Motwani].”
“I’m not sure if it’s the girlfriend who came forward, but I believe that’s what’s happened,” he added.
According to Hoeffs, after the CHP interviewed Motwani, officers received a tip that Motwani was misusing prescriptions, and continued to investigate along with the District Attorney’s Office, the Regional Computer Forensic Lab and the California State Medical Board.
“He was initially interviewed, but we needed to confirm whether or not certain things happened,” Hoeffs said. “It’s up to an individual agency or officer whether or not an arrest is going to be made right away.”
But Walcher said Ms. Quest, Motwani’s ex-girlfriend, asked him for money; Motwani said he is the victim.
“That’s totally outside our scope ” whether she tries to do something else, that’s up to her,” Hoeffs said.
Walcher’s firm sent a press release citing details she said were reported incorrectly, mainly that Motwani did not flee the October scene.
“He was slammed in the media for these allegations and he’s trying to set the record straight,” Walcher said. “He’s a successful LASIK surgeon and he does a lot of advertising.”
Although Motwani, a prominent La Jolla LASIK surgeon, did get into a scuffle with his girlfriend, “Ms. Quest,” Walcher said, he claimed it was self-defense and that he did not flee the scene. According to a press release authorized by Motwani, the CHP’s charges are unfounded.
The CHP began investigating Motwani after he fought with Quest on the side of the freeway back in October of 2007, Walcher said. A driver passed by, and Quest jumped in the car. Motwani tried to get her out, but she drove away, so he left, Walcher said. According to Walcher, Motwani pushed Quest away after she bit him.
On Friday, April 11, the combined organizations concluded their investigation with the arrest of Motwani.
“On Friday the police went to his house,” Walcher said. “He was arrested on Friday and promptly released.”
According to Walcher, Motwani “” recently divorced “” wrote a prescription for his own Lexapro, which a doctor recommended. The medication is a mild anti-depressant, Walcher said.
According to Hoeffs, the prescription charges are related to the Lexapro. The DA’s office charged Motwani with robbery because there wasn’t a specific charge for “obtaining that prescription illegally and taking it from the pharmacy for a person that did not exist,” he said.
Motwani was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, burglary and a prescription violation, Hoeffs said.