A Sydney court has made no changes to ‘Bail Refused Status’ of Indian national Vishal Jood, facing charges for his alleged role in a series of assaults against Sikhs in Sydney’s west.
The hearing of Vishal Jood’s case has been adjourned to 27 January 2022 after Magistrate P. Feather refused him bail in all charges.
Vishal Jood faces court in 12 counts after being arrested by the NSW police in April for his alleged role in a series of assaults against Sikhs in Sydney’s west.
Jood appeared before the court via video conference. After almost an hour-long hearing, Magistrate Feather at Local Court – Crime, Parramatta set a new hearing date as 27 January 2022 for 10 out of 12 charges.
Hearing for two counts of Common Assault has been set for 31 January 2022.
What is the case?
Jood was charged with three counts of affray, three counts of armed with intent to commit an indictable offence, two counts of destroying or damaging property, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm in the company of other(s). These offences carry separate jail terms ranging between two and ten years.
The issue has made news in India where it has been alleged Vishal Jood was acting to protect the Indian flag from being dishonoured by ‘Khalistanis’. The Haryana Chief Minister has intervened in the matter and wrote to India’s Foreign Minister to release Vishal.
A group of Jood’s Harvanvi community members in India, with the support from political leaders that included BJP’s Kapil Mishra, have started a campaign demanding Jood’s release.
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At the time of his arrest, Jood was reported to have been living in Australia under an expired visa.
Supporters have cited Jood’s nationalism and his defence of the Indian flag as the reason for his arrest and asked for consular support from the Indian Government to assist Jood with his court case.
Among the political leaders who tweeted in support of Jood were Kapil Mishra (BJP) and Tejinder Pal Singh Bagga, BJP’s spokesperson from Delhi.
Olympian wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, who is also from Haryana, was also among the public figures who tweeted in support of Jood.
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