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A far-right agitator gatecrashed the Melbourne hotel of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hours before dozens of neo-Nazis and their associates gathered to protest his visit.
But the small contingent gathered outside Marvel Stadium were drowned out by joyful performers from an Indian-Australian drumming group celebrating Modi’s Australian visit.
Neo-Nazi associate Hugo Lennon, a wealthy property development heir turned far-right influencer, posted footage of his late-night tirade against the Indian leader after midnight on Thursday. In the video, police officers quickly swarm Lennon and drag him away from the first-floor balcony overlooking the hotel lobby as he bellows “f— Modi!” and “f— India!” to people below.
Lennon later led the small protest group from the Department of Home Affairs headquarters to the steps of Marvel Stadium, where they hurled racist abuse at the incoming crowd for two hours before disbanding.
Modi touched down in Melbourne at 10.30pm Wednesday just hours before Lennon’s hotel stunt.
Police did not answer questions regarding how Lennon knew where the Indian prime minister was staying or how close he got to Modi but confirmed a 22-year-old man “attended a hotel and shouted political statements” about 12:30am.
“He was moved on by police without incident”, a Victoria Police spokesperson said.
Lennon and his collaborator Mitch Hobbs, a Melbourne stockbroker who goes by the name “Sir Doug”, had organised the protest against Modi’s visit and Australian immigration.
Posters for the event were circulated online by prominent neo-Nazis, including Thomas Sewell, the leader of the now outlawed National Socialist Network.
Many attendees at the demonstration were known neo-Nazis, including Nathan Bull and Michael J Nelson, who were also seen shaking hands with Lennon and Hobbs.
But the groups efforts to disrupt the event made little impact on the festive atmosphere of the arriving crowd, some who took defiant pictures in front of the far-right contingent.
Two musical groups drowned out the protesters’ chants, and Lennon was forced to stop his speech after the Janagar Jana Dhol Pathak drumming group began performing in front of the neo-Nazis.
Lennon’s stunt overnight follows a series of ambushes on politicians by far-right figures during the 2025 federal election, including when two other known neo-Nazi associates confronted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a Melbourne hotel lobby. At the time, those involved boasted in leaked audio about gaining “private intel” on Albanese’s movements.
Nelson also unsuccessfully gatecrashed a One Nation fundraiser last month.
Both Lennon and Hobbs are among a number of wealthy backers recently unmasked by this masthead now helping Sewell and his supporters plot their next move into politics.
Some far-right influencers had shared knowledge online of Modi’s movements around the city during his visit.
Victoria Police stressed officers would be out in force in Melbourne’s CBD throughout.
Security measures are expected to be high throughout Modi’s trip after the Australian Federal Police issued an official warning to a young person who made a death threat towards the Indian leader last week.
An AFP spokesperson said on Monday the source of the online threat was identified and spoken to on July 3.
“Following an assessment of the matter, the young person was issued a formal warning,” they said. “There is no current or impending risk to the community.”
Lennon has been contacted for comment.
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Carla Jaeger is a journalist for The Age. Got a tip? Email carla.jaeger@theage.com.au or message carlajaeger.62 on Signal.Connect via X or email.
Sherryn Groch is a journalist at The Age covering crime. Email her at s.groch@nine.com.au or contact her securely on Signal @SherrynG.70Connect via X or email.From our partners
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