UPDATED: April 11, 2016, at 2:11 p.m.
The investigation into the Streeter Hall arson case implicating Vikram Naidu ’18 is still ongoing, with the defendant now set to appear in the 2nd Circuit Court Lebanon Division for a probable cause hearingonMay 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Naidu was arrested on Feb. 25 on felony charges of arson and reckless misconduct for allegedly setting two trash cans on fire in Streeter at around 2:49 a.m on Feb. 18. His original arraignment date was set for April 4. The arraignment was waived and a probable cause hearing was set for April 11 after Naidu pleaded not guilty.
Naidu was charged with a Class A felony count of arson, according to an official court complaint from the 2nd Circuit Court Lebanon Division. The complaint alleged that the fire was started knowingly, when the defendant ignited a trash receptacle in the first floor bathroom and second one in the first floor exit corridor in Streeter. The complaint also stated that the “defedant knowingly damaged the property of another,” by damaging trash receptables, carpeting and walls owned by the College in an occupied structure. It went on to state that the defendant was aware that the structure was occupied.
Naidu was also charged with a Class B felony count of reckless conduct. The complaint stated that the defendant’s actions may have placed other in danger of seriously bodily harm by starting fires in the bathroom and exit corridors of Streeter during morning hours when residents are asleep. The complaint continued by alleging that Naidu left the building without notifying anyone of the situation, in full knowledge of the fact that the building housed over 50 students overnight.
The court complaint also said that fire meets the definition of a deadly weapon as defined in NH RSA 625-11 B.
Naidu was released on a $5,000 cash bail and a $25,000 personal recognizance bond. He will be personally liable for the entire $25,000 bond if he fails to comply with the conditions of bail.
The original conditions of bail required Naidu’s appearance in the 2nd Circuit Court Lebanon Division on April 4 at 8:15 a.m. and his agreement to not consume alcohol or use a controlled substance or narcotics while on bail.
The court complaint said that failure to comply with these conditions will result in forfeiting the cash bail to the state of New Hampshire. The court may order the arrest of the defendant if the conditions are not met.
Additional conditions imposed on Naidu require him to live at his residence in Saratoga, California in the custody of a responsible adult residing in the same house. Naidu is also not permitted to travel outside of the United States.
Naidu wrote in an email that he is unable to comment until the investigation has concluded.
College spokesperson Diana Lawrence confirmed that Naidu is not enrolled at the College at this time, but said she cannot comment on the ongoing investigation.
The Dartmouth student handbook lists arson, bomb threats, driving under the influence, sexual and physical assault and drug dealing as examples of “conduct that have led to suspension.”
The handbook also states that “the Committee [on Standards] sees each of these acts as significant harm or threat of significant harm.”
Hanover Police Department Chief Charlie Dennis said that there have not been any updates to this case since the Feb. 25 press release announcing Naidu’s arrest.
Director of Safety and Security Harry Kinne said that he could not comment because the investigation is ongoing. Kinne said that Hanover Police and the New Hampshire State Fire Marshalls have all the information that is currently available, and that it would be at least another week before further information is made available to the public.
Naidu is a member of Kappa Kappa Kappa fraternity. In an email statement, Tri-Kap fraternity president Keaton Renta ’16 wrote that while the allegations were not related to fraternity activities, the executive officers will investigate and take “appropriate action” now and at the conclusion of the police investigation.
In 2014, there were no incidents of arson on campus or in surrounding areas, according to data released under the Clery Act. In 2013, there was one incident on campus in a residential facility and two on surrounding non-campus properties. The arson on campus occurred at Chi Gamma Episilon fraternity. At approxiamately 3 a.m. on Sept. 13, 2013, cardboard boxes caught on fire in the basement. Arson was suspected because the boxes were soaked in a flammable liquid.
In 2012, there were two arson incidents in residential facilities and one on a non-campus property in the surrounding area.
Correction appended (March 1, 2016):
The original version of this article stated that College spokesperson Diana Lawrence confirmed in an email that Naidu is not enrolled at the College at this time, but said she cannot comment on the ongoing investigation. In fact, Lawrence confirmed this over the phone not in an email.
Sonia is a junior from Ottawa, Canada. (That is the mysterious Canadian capital that no one seems to ever have heard of.) She is a double major in Economics and Government, with a minor in French. She decided to join The D’s news team in her freshman fall because of her love of writing, talking to people, getting the most up-to-date news on campus, and having a large community of fellow students to share these interests with.
