Who is Manojh Lella? Indian-American Student Arrested in Texas

An Indian-American student from the University of Texas at Dallas has been arrested in Collin County, Texas, over charges including arson at a place of worship and making a terroristic threat, The Dallas Express reported.

Frisco police detained 22-year-old Manojh Sai Lella on December 22, both on sight and via a local warrant, according to Collin County jail records. Lella is currently facing two charges: a first-degree felony for arson with “intent to damage a habitat or place of worship,” and a “Class A misdemeanour for making a terroristic threat against a family or household member,” the report stated.

Court records reviewed by the Dallas Express indicate that Lella was born in 2003 and resides in Frisco, Texas. The Frisco Police Department served as both the arresting agency and the issuing authority for the warrant.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Lella is a senior studying Information Technology at the University of Texas at Dallas. The profile also lists previous volunteer work and involvement in student organizations, although no public posts were visible as of Wednesday. He described himself as a “driven and passionate senior” with experience in programming languages, Tableau, and Power BI, and has actively sought internship opportunities. Lella has volunteered as a math and reading tutor at Gideon Math & Reading, eventually taking on full teaching responsibilities, and has participated in student organizations like Business Professionals of America and DECA.

The Frisco Police Department has not issued public comments regarding the arrest or the allegations. Investigators have also not released details about the incident or the specific place of worship involved.

Bond for the arson charge has been set at $100,000, while the bond for the misdemeanour charge is $3,500. Lella has been held in Collin County jail for two days. Court records do not yet list an attorney for him, and no court decisions have been made in either case.

In Texas, a first-degree felony carries a potential prison sentence of five to 99 years, or even life imprisonment, while a Class A misdemeanour can carry up to one year in jail. Prosecutors must prove the allegations in court before any sentence is imposed.