'I couldn't speak. I froze': Indian origin priest accused of molesting beauty queen in Malaysia; police launch manhunt

Time of India

10-07-2025

Lishalliny Kanaran (Image credits: @HypeMY)
Malaysian beauty queen and actor Lishalliny Kanaran, winner of Miss Grand Malaysia 2021, has accused an Indian priest of molesting her during a recent visit to a Hindu temple. The allegation surfaced after Kanaran shared a detailed account of the incident on Instagram two days ago, sparking public outrage and calls for immediate action.
Lishalliny said she visited the Mariamman Temple in Sepang alone on June 21, as her mother was in India. Being unfamiliar with temple rituals, she usually relied on the priest for guidance.
During the visit, the priest told her he had some holy water and a protective string for her. After she completed her prayers, she waited for about 90 minutes before the priest asked her to follow him to his private office for the blessing.
Inside the office, the priest poured a strong-smelling liquid, described by Lishalliny as rose or flower essence, into the holy water and told her it was brought from India and not given to ordinary people. He then began splashing the water on her, so much that she couldn't open her eyes.
The situation escalated when the priest allegedly asked Kanaran to lift her Punjabi suit. When she declined, explaining that it was too tight, he reportedly scolded her for wearing such attire.
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He then stood behind her, held her head, and began murmuring what she believed were prayers—before allegedly putting his hands inside her blouse and bra.
'My brain knew everything about that moment was wrong and yet I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I froze. And I still don't understand why,' she said.
Kanaran said she spent the following days feeling disgusted and deeply traumatised. After her mother returned from India, she confided in her.
Shocked and enraged, her mother informed the rest of the family, and they filed a police complaint on July 4.
When they returned to the temple, they found the priest had already fled. 'Apparently, the priest wasn't there anymore. Someone had already reported him before for the same thing and yet no action had been taken,' Kanaran said, accusing the temple management of prioritising its reputation over helping victims.
The actress's detailed social media post has sparked outrage, with calls for the suspect to be swiftly apprehended. Police have not yet located the priest but confirmed that efforts to track him down are underway.
Sepang district police chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman, speaking to Malay Mail, said, 'The suspect is an Indian national who was temporarily filling the position because the temple's resident priest is currently abroad.'
'The suspect's modus operandi was allegedly to sprinkle holy water on the victim's face and body before proceeding to molest her,' he added.