Melbourne businessman Sairam Uppu denied bail over alleged India kidnapping plot
A builder allegedly forced his ex-wife’s new beau out of the country with claims that “I can do anything”, a court has been told.
A business owner allegedly kidnapped his ex-wife’s new husband and forced him with threats to board a plane bound for India, a court has been told.
Sairam Uppu, 40, on Thursday appeared in the Victorian Supreme Court where his bid for bail was knocked back by Justice John Champion.
Mr Uppu was charged with offences including kidnapping, extortion and threat to kill after he allegedly forced the man out of the country on June 8.
He denies the allegations, the court was told, and has offered police a “parallel narrative” that would exonerate him.
Police allege Mr Uppu, who owns and runs a home building business in Melbourne’s west, lured the man on June 6 to a Truganina office where he was assaulted and told he would be killed if he didn’t comply.
He was also allegedly shown a photo of his family back in India with threats to their lives, the court was told.
“How dare you marry my wife you son of a b---h, I will kill you,” Mr Uppu allegedly said.
“I have my political background and I have a lot of money – I can do anything.”
At an earlier court hearing, Detective Senior Constable Martin Markovski said the man claimed Mr Uppu called him “low caste” and alleged the Australian Federal Police was looking for him.
“If you don’t come with us we’ll hand you over,” the man was allegedly told.
Police say the alleged victim complied out of fear and was held at Mr Uppu’s home for two days before being placed on a flight to India.
He returned to Melbourne after visa issues on July 13 and filed a complaint with police, the court was told.
Mr Uppu’s barrister, Mihal Greener, said her client claimed the man had been kicked out by his wife and didn’t have anywhere to go.
She told the court that Mr Uppu had been asked by his ex-wife to assist the man to return to India.
“There was certainly nothing compelling him to get on that plane,” she said.
Ms Greener said police had sought to paint Mr Uppu’s role as the Victorian president of the BRS Party – an Indian political party – as some sort of “nefarious organisation” when it was really a small group who engaged in charity work.
Mr Uppu sought bail due to his business obligations and argued there would be a significant delay, estimating a trial would not be held until 2026.
Prosecutors opposed bail, raising fears Mr Uppu held a grudge and concerns for the ongoing safety of the man and his wife.
Justice Champion ultimately found the test of compelling reasons for bail had not been met but noted that he would have also refused bail because prosecutors had satisfied him that Mr Uppu posed an unacceptable risk.
Mr Uppu will next appear in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court for a committal mention in November.