- Indian-origin UT Dallas student arrested in Collin County on December 22
- Faces first-degree felony arson charge tied to a place of worship
- Also charged with making a “terroristic threat,” a Class A misdemeanor
- Police have not disclosed details of the alleged incident
- Bonds set at more than $100,000 as investigation continues
An Indian-origin student at the University of Texas at Dallas has been arrested in Collin County, Texas, on serious criminal charges, including arson at a place of worship and making a terroristic threat, according to jail and court records reviewed by The Dallas Express.
Frisco police detained 22-year-old Manojh Sai Lella on Monday (22). Collin County jail records show that he was arrested at the scene and on a local warrant issued by the Frisco Police Department, which is listed as both the arresting agency and the authority that sought the warrant.
Lella is facing two charges. The first is a first-degree felony for arson with “intent to damage a habitat or place of worship.” The second is a Class A misdemeanor for “making a terroristic threat against a family or household member,” according to court documents cited by The Dallas Express.
Court records identify Lella as a male born in 2003, with a listed home address in Frisco. As of Wednesday (24), he had been held in the Collin County jail for two days. Records do not yet indicate that he has legal representation, and no court decisions have been made in either case.
Authorities have not released information about the alleged incident, including which place of worship was involved or what led investigators to file the charges. The Frisco Police Department has not issued a public statement, and officials have declined to comment while the investigation remains ongoing.
Bond for the arson charge has been set at $100,000, while bond for the misdemeanor terroristic threat charge is $3,500, according to jail records.
Under Texas law, a first-degree felony is punishable by a prison sentence ranging from five to 99 years, or life, if convicted. A Class A misdemeanor carries a potential sentence of up to one year in jail. Prosecutors must prove the allegations in court before any sentence can be imposed.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Lella is a senior at the University of Texas at Dallas studying Information Technology. He described himself as a “driven and passionate senior” with experience in programming languages, Tableau, and Power BI, and noted that he was actively seeking internship opportunities.
His profile also highlights volunteer work and involvement in student organizations. Lella reported working as a math and reading tutor at Gideon Math & Reading, where he later took on full teaching responsibilities. He also listed participation in student groups such as Business Professionals of America and DECA. No public posts were visible on his account as of Wednesday.
The University of Texas at Dallas has not released a public statement regarding the arrest, and it is unclear whether the university has taken any interim action while the legal process unfolds.
The case remains under investigation, and further details are expected to emerge as court proceedings move forward.
