Man Claims Ex Wife Fled With Child To Join Guru S Flock Seeks Govt S Help

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The last time Lakshna Rau Soorichandran held his 10-year-old daughter was in December 2021. He is now seeking the government’s help to reunite them.
The 39-year-old lorry driver claimed that his ex-wife, who was then still married to him, fled abroad with their child, who was seven at the time, to join the following of controversial Indian guru Swami Nityananda.
“I knew that Shalini was a follower of Nityananda even before we got married. Despite telling her about the scandals revolving around the practice, Shalini refused to listen to me. 
“So our lives continued as usual until I returned to an empty house on Dec 8 (2021). 
“Before I left for work, she told me she was going to her friend’s housewarming and I never suspected that she would take my daughter away from me,” he told a press conference at the Fathers’ Rights Association of Malaysia (Fram) office in Kuala Lumpur today.
According to Lakshna (above), he only realised that his ex-wife had couriered her clothes and belongings to her mother after she left.
He also could not obtain any information on the whereabouts of his daughter from his ex-wife’s family, whom he claimed were also followers of the guru.
“Since they went missing, I have been searching everywhere, lodging police reports and getting legal help with this case.
“I am worried about my daughter. I am her father yet I don’t know where she is. I miss her. 
“This government is my only hope to get her back, I have no one else,” he said, adding that there has been no contact with his wife and daughter for the past three years. 
Lakshna said when he checked his ex-wife’s email, he discovered an invitation to a religious training programme in Trinidad and Tobago as well as information about visa applications. 
“Based on what I have gathered, I believe she first flew to Doha before going to Trinidad and Tobago.
“On Dec 14, 2021, while looking for them, I realised that RM15,000 in cash and jewelry worth RM35,000 that I kept in the house were also missing,” he added. 
Hoping to meet PM, IGP
Lakshana’s lawyer Shantini Thanapalan said her client sought her help in Feb 2022. 
Shantini Thanapalan“He explained to me what happened and we proceeded to take legal action. On June 24, 2022, the court gave my client full custody of his daughter as well as the Decree Nisi stating divorce between my client and his wife. 
“He thought that after obtaining the custody order, his daughter would return. However, we have been told that Interpol needs to receive the court order first. We are now waiting for the court’s order on the recovery of the child,” she added. 
Meanwhile, Fram president Malcolm Fernandez said they are hoping to meet Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain on the matter.
“We are going to write a letter to the IGP and the prime minister about this,” he added.
Fernandez said in one of the messages to Lakshana, the latter’s ex-wife said she loved her husband but her devotion to practice was stronger.
“Imagine being in Lakshana’s position, a father who has no idea where his daughter is or how she is doing,” he added. - Mkini

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