Court dismisses Indira Gandhi's bid to initiate contempt proceedings against IGP

Judicial Commissioner Bhupindar Singh Gurcharan Singh Preet made the decision after hearing submissions by both parties. He dismissed the application with no order as to cost.

Indira Gandhi filed the application over alleged failure of the police to arrest her ex-husband and return her daughter who was abducted by him 13 years ago.

The woman, who was with her lawyer, L. Pavitra, when met by reporters outside the court, said she would file an appeal against today's decision.

Indira Gandhi, 46, filed a suit on 28 Oct 2020 and named the IGP, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Home Ministry and the government as the first to fourth defendants.

In her statement of claim, she stated that the IGP had deliberately and negligently disregarded a mandamus order issued by the Federal Court in failing to investigate or take appropriate action to return her youngest child, Prasana Diksa, who is now 14-years-old.

She claimed that IGP, the Home Ministry and the government had a role to play in making decisions or ordering the police to execute the committal warrant against Muhammad Riduan Abdullah, formerly known as K. Pathmanathan, as ordered by the Federal Court on April 29, 2016.

The woman contended that the action by the defendants had directly caused her to be separated from her daughter until today and also caused Muhammad Riduan to flee.

She is seeking RM100 million in general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as a declaration that the IGP had committed the tort of nonfeasance in public office; and the Home Ministry and the government were vicariously liable for the tort of nonfeasance committed by the IGP.

Prasana Diksa was taken away by Muhammad Riduan when she was 11-months old, shortly after he converted to Islam.