Indira Gandhi’s justice march ends in a Bukit Aman sit-in as a minister steps in to secure a long-awaited meeting with the IGP
KUALA LUMPUR: A marathon six-hour march and sit-in led by Indira Gandhi concluded this afternoon with Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran securing an upcoming meeting between her and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), following a tense standoff outside Bukit Aman.
The Justice March began at 11.03am along Jalan Tun HS Lee, where chants of “Enough is enough, bring back Prasana!” echoed as supporters walked alongside Indira, who held her daughter’s 16-year-old teddy bear wrapped in pink cloth.
Politicians, students, civil society groups and families joined the march, which was aimed at pressing authorities to enforce outstanding court orders relating to Prasana Diksa, who was taken by her father in 2009.
Before the march began, Indira delivered an emotional plea to the crowd.
“Where is my daughter? I am tired. I am not young anymore. I will stand here until the IGP meets me and takes this teddy bear meant for Prasana.”
Kulasegaran, who is also Ipoh Barat MP, told supporters he had followed the case since its early years.
“It has taken more than 16 years and we still cannot see results. If the fugitive can move freely, there must be mechanisms. He must be arrested and brought to justice,” he said.
Indira Gandhi’s counsel, Rajesh Nagarajan, addressed the crowd, criticising the lack of enforcement of court orders.
“We know for a fact that Padmanathan is roaming around Malaysia. He is swiping his IC, and it is all recorded. He is also receiving Sumbangan Asas Rahmah. Despite black-and-white proof, the police still cannot catch him. Does this make sense?”
Also present before the march were former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, former Malaysian Bar president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, and Indira’s counsel Rajesh Nagarajan, all of whom addressed the crowd earlier in the morning.
The march reached the entrance of the Bukit Aman district police headquarters at around 12.00pm.
Supporters carried placards and soft toys as officers directed traffic beside the gathering.
After about 30 minutes after gathering at Bukit Aman police headquraters, Senior Assistant Commissioner Datuk Seri Siti Kamsiah Hassan of D11, came down to meet the organisers on behalf of IGP Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Ismail.
The organisers declined to hand over the teddy bear, reaffirming that it’s meant for only the IGP.
Indira Gandhi Action Team (Ingat) Ingat chairman Arun Dorasamy told reporters that the team had already clearly communicated to Bukit Aman that the handover must be done by the IGP personally.
“One option was a private appointment. Another was for a senior officer to receive it on his behalf. We shut those down.
“This teddy bear carries 16 years of memories. We stated clearly – we will not move until the IGP comes to receive it personally.”
With no confirmation from the police after an hour, the organisers initiated a sit-in at 2.00pm, occupying one lane outside Bukit Aman.
Indira sat on a plastic chair while supporters gathered beside a stationary school bus. Police redirected traffic as the group continued chanting for answers.
Arun later said the organisers were told the IGP “might” meet them through his sources and asked for “about one hour,” but no updates followed.
At 2.30pm, the group issued an ultimatum: if no clarity was given by 4.00pm, the sit-in would continue indefinitely.
Negotiations took place through district police officers, and according to Arun, the IGP’s office conveyed that no appointment was available in December or January.
“They said there is absolutely no slot to meet Indira Gandhi – not this month, not next month,” he said.
Arun then phoned Deputy Minister Kulasegaran, who immediately intervened.
“The Deputy Minister gave us assurance that he will secure an appointment with the IGP. He will also personally attend the meeting,” Arun said, adding that the group agreed to disperse based solely on this assurance.
He described the day’s events as frustrating.
“We have waited here three and a half hours. We gave full notice. With the Deputy Minister’s guarantee, we will move for now.”
Before leaving Bukit Aman, Indira addressed reporters.
“We are not here to protest anyone. We want to work with the police. We only want to know where Prasana is. It has been 16 years. Don’t tell me the IGP cannot even see me for five minutes. Just give me a date.”
Prasana Diksa was taken by her father, then known as K. Pathmanathan, in 2009 after the unilateral conversion of the couple’s three children. In 2018, the Federal Court nullified the conversions and ruled that both parents must consent. A special task force was formed in 2019, but no arrests have been made.
Sixteen years on, Prasana remains missing.
