Trial begins in Hackensack, NJ, on Tuesday.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: After at least three previous delays, the trial for alleged synagogue bomber Aakash Dalal is set to begin at the Bergen County Court House in Hackensack, New Jersey, on Tuesday, February 18th.
Dalal’s case has gained considerable notoriety ever since his arrest in March of 2012 for his alleged role in conducting and encouraging attacks on Jewish temples in Bergen County along with his friend and co-defendant, Anthony M. Graziano. The pair was accused of having racial motivations in carrying out the attacks, and Dalal in particular was charged with instructing Graziano on how to produce Molotov cocktails and other explosive devices.
However, Dalal, then 18 and a student at Rutgers, has no prior criminal history, and his charges – aggravated arson, bias intimidation, conspiracy to commit aggravated arson, and two counts of criminal mischief – landed him in solitary confinement for the better part of two years. Dalal has been forced to spend 21 hours a day since his incarceration in a six-foot by eight-foot cell all by himself.
Local community leader Pradip ‘Peter’ Kothari spoke with The American Bazaarregarding his efforts to raise awareness within the New Jersey desi Diaspora and bring people out to support Dalal.
“We will have 50-60 people there [at the courthouse] tomorrow,” said Kothari. “We will make noise and not sit idly.”
Kothari said, rather provocatively, that he believes Dalal’s plight is the result of a Jewish American majority in the Hackensack area of New Jersey. Because Jewish places were being attacked and Dalal was “indirectly” involved, he is now paying the price for rampant racial prejudices that could cost him his shot at a promising future.
“This is totally controlled by Jewish community, that is the only possible reason for this,” said Kothari. “Many other religions have been attacked but the government has not done anything, but a synagogue gets attacked by someone and now he [Dalal] gets arrested without having any direct involvement with the crime […] Our community better wake up.”
While Kothari refused to speculate on the motivations of the court and could not speak about any details regarding the trial, he said that he was pushing ahead no-holds-barred to make sure Dalal gets a fair trial, and that his case is heard justly in court.
“Our aim is to get him out of jail and not be biased about it,” said Kothari, adding that “if [Dalal] is guilty, then let them find him guilty.”
Kothari said he and Dalal’s family are most upset about the constantly changing court dates to commence the trial. The trial was originally set to begin in September of last year, but was then delayed to December, and again to this January. Now, it is set to start tomorrow, on Tuesday, although Kothari said that given the case’s prior history, there’s still no guarantee anything will really happen.
Additionally, the bail amounts levied by the court have fluctuated. Dalal’s bail amount was first set at $2.5 million, but was subsequently lowered to $1 million. Dalal’s parents were putting together the bail money when they were notified that the amount had been increased to $4 million, as the FBI uncovered new evidence that Dalal was going to buy a gun and murder Bergen County assistant prosecutor Martin Delaney, if he was released from jail.
Kothari says that those charges are completely false, and that Dalal was being kept in isolation with no contact from anyone, making it difficult to believe that he told anyone that he was going to purchase a gun and kill someone.
Dalal’s father declined to speak with The American Bazaar regarding his son’s case, saying that he has been advised not to speak to the press by his son’s legal counsel. But he is hoping that the case gains awareness and support.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com
2 Comments
Well, if Akash Dalal was party to bombing a synagogue, he does not deserve much sympathy. When people start blaming the Jews for their problems, it sounds like the old Islamic and Nazi propaganda to me.
Well, if Akash Dalal was party to bombing a synagogue, he does not deserve much sympathy. When people start blaming the Jews for their problems, it sounds like the old Islamic and Nazi propaganda to me.