The case of M. Indira Gandhi, a mother who has been separated from her daughter Prasana Diksa for more than 16 years, remains unresolved despite ongoing legal battles and public campaigns. On November 22, 2025, Indira Gandhi, together with her supporters, took to the streets once again, leading a “March for Justice” from Sogo Kuala Lumpur to the Bukit Aman police headquarters, continuing her fight to reunite with her daughter, who was abducted by her ex-husband in 2009.
The march marked a renewed push for justice and drew significant attention from the media, politicians, and activists. Indira Gandhi’s struggle to find Prasana Diksa, now 17, has become a symbol of the challenges parents face when caught between the country’s civil and Sharia legal systems.
The Latest Update from the IGP
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail, has confirmed that the police are still actively searching for Muhammad Riduan Abdullah (formerly Pathmanathan Krishnan), Indira Gandhi’s ex-husband, who converted to Islam and took their daughter away in 2009. Despite the High Court’s ruling and numerous court orders, Riduan remains on the run, and his whereabouts, along with those of Prasana Diksa, remain unknown.
In a statement issued on November 26, 2025, the IGP assured the public that police efforts to locate Riduan are ongoing. The police have continued to work closely with the Immigration Department to ensure that Riduan remains under a travel restriction to prevent him from leaving the country. The IGP confirmed that a special travel ban remains in effect, barring Riduan from exiting Malaysia. Authorities are also looking into allegations that Riduan may be using his identity to access government aid programs like BUDI95 and Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA), which require MyKad verification.
“We remain committed to complying with the High Court’s decisions,” the IGP stated. “We are handling this case with professionalism, integrity, and transparency, and we continue to work tirelessly to locate the missing individuals in this case.”
A Mother’s Plea
Indira Gandhi’s march on November 22 was a heart-wrenching display of a mother’s desperation and resilience. Dressed in black, and holding placards like “Mr. IGP, return my child” and “Stop these 16 years of pain,” Indira and her two older children, Tevi Darsiny and Karan Dinish, led the procession. Indira, pushing a stroller containing her daughter’s teddy bear and legal documents, symbolized the 16 years of anguish she has endured, having last seen her daughter when Prasana was just an 11-month-old infant.
As the march progressed from Sogo to Bukit Aman, Indira’s voice, filled with emotion, rang out: “This is a mother pleading to get my own daughter. No mother should go through what I have been through. Is it so difficult to find my daughter?” The march was a plea to the police and the authorities to step up their efforts and finally resolve a case that has dragged on for far too long.
The march attracted prominent political figures and activists, including Deputy Law Minister M. Kulasegaran and former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who lent their voices to the cause. Zaid Ibrahim pointed out the difficulties mothers face when custody battles intersect with religious issues, emphasizing that Indira Gandhi’s case is part of a wider systemic issue affecting many families.
“It’s a mother-and-child issue, and these issues are not being taken seriously enough,” said Zaid Ibrahim. “Indira’s case won’t be the last. There will be more cases if the system does not change.”
The Legal Struggle and Court Orders
The legal battle has spanned over a decade and involved numerous court proceedings. In 2014, the High Court in Ipoh issued an arrest warrant for Riduan Abdullah for his contempt of court after he failed to comply with the court’s orders to return Prasana to her mother. The warrant remains active, and the police have been tasked with executing it.
However, despite the Federal Court’s ruling in Indira’s favor, the case remains unresolved. The High Court in Ipoh has been closely monitoring the police’s progress, and the police have provided regular updates to the court, including 18 case management reports since 2021. The most recent court order on November 21, 2025, expanded the search to nationwide, urging authorities to broaden their efforts beyond Kelantan and to ensure that Riduan cannot leave the country.
A Mother’s Call for Action
At Bukit Aman, Indira Gandhi and her supporters met with representatives from the IGP’s office, but Indira was clear in her demand: she wanted to personally deliver her daughter’s teddy bear to the IGP. She vowed to remain outside the police headquarters until the Inspector-General himself came to take the bear.
“I will stand here until the IGP comes and takes Prasana’s teddy bear,” Indira said, her voice breaking. The crowd chanted in unison: “We want IGP! We want IGP!” Despite the tension, the rally remained peaceful, with supporters showing strong solidarity with the grieving mother.
Arun Dorasamy, the chairman of the Indira Gandhi Action Team (Ingat), emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Indira has endured years in court with little progress. Now, she is taking it to the streets to demand justice.”
The Road Ahead
As of now, Indira Gandhi’s fight remains a stark reminder of the intersection between personal tragedy and legal complexity in Malaysia. The case has sparked widespread public debate about the role of religion in family law, the effectiveness of Malaysia’s judicial system, and the accountability of law enforcement in cases of child abduction.
The March for Justice is a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle, drawing attention to the lengthy delays and lack of closure in a case that has lasted over 16 years. The pressure on the IGP and the authorities continues to build as the case progresses, with Indira Gandhi and her supporters vowing to push for answers until the mother and daughter are finally reunited.
While the road ahead is uncertain, one thing is clear: Indira Gandhi will not stop until she brings her daughter home.
Post Comment