The ex-husband of M Indira Gandhi has failed in his bid to obtain a stay order on the decision of the Ipoh High Court to award custody of her 22-month-old toddler to the mother.

indira gandhi children custody case 110310 ipoh high court Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, formerly known as K Pathmanathan, filed the application on March 11, after High Court Judge Wan Afrah Wan Ibrahim awarded custody of the child, Prasana Diksa, to Indira Gandhi ( right in green ).

The court decided then that it was in the best interest of the toddler to be returned to her mother, who already has custody of other siblings Tevi Darsiny, 13, and Karan Dinish, 12.

The judge also ruled that Mohd Ridzuan, 41, would be granted visitation rights.

This year-long legal battle had garnered a lot of attention because Mohd Ridzuan sought custody of the three children through the  Syariah Court after he had converted to Islam in April 2009. 

Justice Wan Afrah ruled in chambers that Mohd Riduan has no special grounds for her ruling to be granted a stay of execution and ordered that Prasana be immediately handed over to the mother.

Mohd Riduan and Prasana Diksa were not present in court today, but India Gandhi and the two other children were present.

Ex-husband whereabouts unknown

Speaking to reporters later, Indira Gandhi pleaded for Mohd Riduan to return the Prasana Diksa as soon as possible so that she can celebrate the toddler’s second birthday on April 8.

“I’m very happy with the court decision today but I hope my husband will return my child before her birthday,” she said in between her sobs.

Her lawyer M Kulasegaran told reporters later that contempt proceedings will be initiated against Mohd Riduan if he fails to return the toddler to her mother.

Currently, Mohd Riduan and the child’s exact whereabouts are unknown, but they are believed to be Kelantan because his lawyers are from that state.

“Finding the father and child to serve the court order on them will be a big challenge,” he said.

Indira Gandhi faces another challenge tomorrow at the Ipoh High Court as her suit to quash the certificates of conversion of her three children issues by the Perak Religious Council will be heard.