Bondi Beach shooting: Terror suspect Sajid Akram tried for Australian citizenship several times but failed, say cops

HYDERABAD: Officers with Telangana police's intelligence wing said on Wednesday that Sydney terror accused Sajid Akram had been trying to get Australian citizenship for many years but, for reasons unknown to his family, did not succeed.'

"What we know is that Sajid renewed his Indian passport last in 2022 and did not visit Pakistan.


Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) examined Naveed, Sajid's 24-year-old son and the other accused in the Bondi beach killings, in 2019 for his alleged ties with a local Islamic State cell in Sydney. They, however, cleared him as not an imminent threat," a senior police officer said.

The officer added that Sajid was not on the Australian intelligence radar and Naveed and he did not affiliate themselves with any extremist groups operating from India.

Telangana police's intelligence sleuths also checked on the duo's visits to Hyderabad to establish the purpose of their trips and ascertain whom they had met. After scrutiny, cops said the visits were personal and Sajid mostly remained in contact with immediate family. They also found no evidence to suggest he had visited Pakistan.

The house of Sajid's brother remained under lock and key on Wednesday as well. Family members' phones were found switched off.

Sajid left Hyderabad on a student visa to Australia in 1998 but did not pursue any formal education there, instead undertaking various jobs before settling as a fruit vendor. In 2000-2001, he married an Australian of Italian descent, Venera Grosso, and brought her to Hyderabad in 2001 to introduce her to his parents. Here they had a traditional nikah.

He next came in 2004 to introduce son Naveed to the family in Hyderabad. When his father passed away in 2009, Sajid could not attend the funeral. "But he came a month later and met the family in 2009," said a police officer.

Sajid returned in 2012 to seek prospective buyers for his land and house near Shalibanda. He again visited in 2016 with Naveed to sign an agreement and dispose of the property. His last trip was in 2022 to meet family members. "His visits were short. Each time he stayed for about a week or 10 days. In 2022, he stayed for a fortnight at Al Hasnath Colony. He remained in the house and spent time mostly with his mother and sister," said a senior police official.