Dalal was arrested for allegedly attacking synagogues in New Jersey.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: A former Rutgers student, who has been held in solitary confinement for nearly two years for his alleged role in the bombings of several New Jersey synagogues, is set to begin trial on January 23.
Akaash Dalal was nineteen years old when he was arrested in March of 2012 for his alleged role in conducting and encouraging attacks on Jewish temples in Bergen County, New Jersey, along with his friend and co-defendant, Anthony M. Graziano.
Dalal was accused of having racial motivations in carrying out the attacks, and of instructing Graziano on the proper way to build Molotov cocktails – bottles of alcohol with lit rags stuffed into the opening – and other explosive devices.
Dalal was also allegedly ecstatic upon discovering that the Congregation Beth El temple in Rutherford, NJ was an all-wood building, and targeted it with unusual fervor. Together, he and Graziano allegedly set fire to the structure while a Rabbi and his family was asleep inside on January 11, 2012.
Following his arrest, Dalal was charged with aggravated arson, bias intimidation, conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and two counts of criminal mischief. He has been in jail since his arrest, awaiting trial.
Dalal’s bail amount was initially set at $2.5 million, but was lowered by the judge to just $1 million. Dalal’s parents were putting together the bail money when they were notified that the amount had been increased to a staggering $4 million, as the FBI uncovered new evidence that Dalal was going to buy a gun and murder Bergen County assistant prosecutor Martin Delaney upon release.
During his incarceration, Dalal has spent the majority of the time in solitary confinement, meaning that he spends up to 21 hours a day in a cell no larger than 8 ft. by 6 ft. in dimensions. His parents, Adarsh and Harsh Dalal, have persisted in trying to clear their son’s name and get him out of prison, but to no avail.
Graziano confessed to prosecutors in July of 2012 that he did attempt to burn down a synagogue, but did not implicate Dalal, saying that he learned how to build the arson devices by doing research online. He is facing over a dozen criminal charges, including attempted murder, and is also still in jail.
In addition to receiving the support of his family, Dalal also has the backing of the Indo-American Cultural Society, which has been working diligently to make sure Dalal is treated fairly in prison and is exonerated of his charges. Dalal’s father has even said that his son’s incarceration is being unfairly used for political purposes, and as an example to other would-be terrorists.
It is unclear how many years of jail time Dalal is facing if convicted of his charges.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com