It is terrible: Pradip Kothari.
By Deepak Chitnis
WASHINGTON, DC: Alleged synagogue bomber Aakash Dalal got his day in court in New Jersey on Tuesday, and around 50-60 supporters turned out at the Bergen County Court House to protest against the charges levied at the former Rutgers University student.
Dalal’s attorney, Brian Neary, requested the court to have Dalal’s case moved to another jurisdiction, saying that because his client was facing charges for conspiring to murder a prosecutor in Bergen County, along with judges Patrick Roma and Liliana DeAvila-Silebi, the court must recuse itself of the case and pass it onto another county.
Judge Edward Jerejian, however, blocked the motion, saying that threatening judges and lawyers just to get them off of a case is not permissible by law. Jerejian also denied requests by Neary to dismiss the indictments Dalal is facing because the prosecutors who presented them in front of the grand jury may have made several mistakes.
Speaking to The American Bazaar after Tuesday’s court hearings, local community leader and Dalal activist Pradip “Peter” Kothari explained that the family and litigation team were not expecting the case to be moved, but had to file the requests to make sure they covered that base. Kothari also maintained his position that Dalal is being victimized by the local Jewish majority.
“They need to set an example,” said Kothari, “and they’re taking it out on the Indian American community through this boy.”
Kothari was unable to comment on whether or not any plea deals have been offered, but said that the next court date will be in three to four weeks. Throughout this time, Dalal is still being kept in solitary confinement for 21 hours a day, with three hours being given to roam around the yard and get some general exercise.
“They are giving him just enough to keep him alive,” said Kothari. “But for a boy who has no criminal history, and against whom [the prosecution] has no case, it is terrible. I am 100% sure that we will have 200-300 [supporters] at the next court date.”
Dalal is being tried for charges that he masterminded and participated in a series of bombings of Jewish synagogues in 2012. He was arrested and has been held in solitary confinement for two years now, with his family and friends working tirelessly to make sure he gets a fair trial and is treated properly. Yet once again, the case is being delayed, and Dalal’s future remains up in the air.
To contact the author, email to deepakchitnis@americanbazaaronline.com