The brother of a 20-year-old overseas student who was placed in an induced coma after he was brutally bashed and robbed in an inner-city park is pleading for justice.

Yadwinder Singh says he wants the thugs who beat his younger brother, Manrajwinder Singh, of Reservoir, nearly to death, to be "caught and punished so innocent people like my brother and his friend don't get bashed like this".

Victim: Manrajwinder Singh

CCTV footage released by police shows Mr Singh, 20, standing near the footpath with another friend at Birrarung Marr park, about 50 metres from St Kilda Road, when the trio were approached by eight men of African appearance and one fair-skinned woman about 4.15am on Sunday.

Detective Senior Constable Adam Foley said that after a brief conversation between the group and the two victims, one of the offenders kicked Mr Singh in the jaw, causing him to fall, unconscious, to the ground.