New Delhi/Sydney: Indian and Australian investigators have now joined hands to know more about Bondi Beach terror accused Sajid Akram’s activities in India, during his visits to the country.
It has now come to light that Akram was denied Australian citizenship and held on to his Indian passport. He visited India last in 2022, when he renewed the passport for 10 more years, as reported by News18.
It is still not clear when he got radicalised enough to plan and carry out a mass shooting. On December 14, he went to the Bondi Beach in Australia’s New South Wales with his son Naveed and the two shot dead 14 people attending a Jewish festival.
He was shot dead by the police at the scene of the crime. His son was injured and arrested after coming out of a coma at a hospital.
Akram and his son’s visit to the Phillipines earlier this year is also being probed to ascertain whether they got in touch with leaders of the ISIS there.
Akram lived in Australia for 27 years and applied for citizenship on several occasions. However, his application was rejected every time. The reason is unclear.
The Telangana Police have now said that they are tracing details of Akram’s multiple visits from Sydney to Hyderabad, particularly during the years 2000-01, 2004, 2009, 2012, 2016 and his final visit in 2022.
As of now, authorities have claimed that there is no evidence of Akram travelling to Pakistan, though his entire travel history remains under scrutiny.
The key timeline that has emerged so far:
1998: Akram completed his Bachelor’s degree at Anwar-ul-Uloom College, Nampally. He travelled to Australia on a student visa on November 8.
Early 2000: Akram returned to Hyderabad to inform his family about his intention to marry Venera Grosso, a permanent resident of Australia of European origin. Sources said he faced resistance from family members. He is said to have introduced his wife, Venera Grosso, but his father was completely against it. After much convincing, he is said to have got the consent of his mother and help of some relatives. A traditional Nikah according to Muslim customs was later conducted in Hyderabad.
2001: Akram converted his student visa to a partner visa following his marriage with Grosso. He tried multiple jobs and finally settled down as a fruit seller.
August 2001: His son Naveed Akram – later identified as one of the attackers – was born in Australia and automatically acquired Australian citizenship. At a young age of 19, he completes his vocational training and later found a job as a brick layer, his first formal job. Akram also has a daughter from Grosso, born years later.
2003-04: Akram visited Hyderabad with his wife, followed by another visit in 2004 when he introduced his three-year-old son Naveed to relatives.
2008: Akram obtained a Resident Return Visa, allowing him to retain Permanent Resident (PR) status and travel in and out of Australia.
2009: Akram’s father passed away. Police said he did not attend the funeral, citing inability to arrive in time, but travelled to Hyderabad later.
2012: He visited Hyderabad again in February and renewed his Indian passport for a 10-year validity.
2016: Amid a prolonged property dispute over ancestral property in Shalibanda, Hyderabad’s Old City, Akram travelled to India to finalise the sale. He reportedly came with his teenage son to sign the documents.
2018: Using proceeds from the property sale, Akram purchased a house in the Australia. His wife held a share in the property, which Akram reportedly transferred his share of the property too fully to her in February last year.
2022: Akram made his final visit to Hyderabad in February, during which he met family members and renewed his passport once again for a period of ten years.
Investigators have said that the focus remains on reconstructing his travel and financial trail as part of the ongoing joint probe.
