Akram, 24, is charged with opening fire at a Jewish Hanukkah gathering at Bondi Beach in December, killing 15 people in what police have described as one of the country’s worst mass shootings and an attack inspired by Islamic State.

The accused had sought a 40-year suppression order to block publication of the names, images and identifying details of his mother, brother and sister, arguing that publicity could endanger their safety.

Several Australian media organizations opposed the application, saying it would unduly restrict reporting in a case of significant public interest.Judge Hugh Donnelly ruled against the request, stating that suppression orders should be granted only in exceptional circumstances and that transparency in judicial proceedings was fundamental.

He noted the case had generated “unprecedented public interest, anger, outrage and grief.”The court heard that personal details of Akram’s family had already circulated widely online, while his mother had spoken to local media shortly after the attack.

Donnelly added that any order limited to Australian jurisdiction would be ineffective given the reach of social media and international publications.Akram appeared via video link from a maximum-security prison and did not contest the ruling further.

His lawyer, Richard Wilson, told the court there were no plans to appeal the decision.The December attack shocked Australia, a country with strict gun control laws, and has prompted renewed debate over firearm regulation and rising antisemitism.

The government has since launched a national inquiry into antisemitism and social cohesion, with findings expected later this year, alongside measures to strengthen hate speech legislation.

Singh, 42, who led the Glory and Wisdom Church in Tajpur (Jalandhar) and Majri (Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar), was found guilty under Section 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with repeated rape of the same victim. The Mohali Additional Sessions Court sentenced him to imprisonment for the remainder of his natural life.

Bajinder Singh rose to prominence over a decade ago, drawing thousands to his “miracle services,” where he claimed to heal ailments and solve life problems. However, his ministry has been fraught with controversies, including allegations of fraud and sexual misconduct.

His conviction stems from a 2018 case, in which a woman accused him of raping her multiple times, filming obscene videos, and demanding money under threats of exposure. She alleged that Singh first contacted her in September 2017 and sexually assaulted her repeatedly.

The police registered an FIR in April 2018 under various sections of the IPC, including rape, criminal intimidation, and causing hurt. While the court convicted Singh last week, five other co-accused were acquitted in the case.

This is not the first time Singh has faced legal trouble. In 2022, a Delhi-based family accused him of fraud, alleging he took money to “miraculously heal” their ill daughter, who later passed away. Most recently, on February 28, 2025, the Punjab police in Kapurthala registered another case against him for sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation based on a complaint by a 21-year-old woman who had volunteered at his ministry for six years.

Singh is one of several controversial self-proclaimed religious figures in India’s Christian community, particularly in Punjab, where ‘Christian deras’ (religious sects) have proliferated in recent years. His sentencing has reignited debates over fraudulent faith healers and religious leaders exploiting their followers.

With this landmark conviction, legal experts and social activists are calling for stricter scrutiny of self-styled preachers to prevent future exploitation of vulnerable devotees.