'He said it would be a blessing': Indian-origin actor-host accuses Hindu priest of molestation in Malaysia

Lishalliny recounted her experience from June 21 when she went to the Mariamman Temple in Sepang alone as her mother was in India.

In an Instagram post, Lishalliny alleged the priest was splashing "holy water" from India on her face and then he asked her to lift her Punjabi suit.

When she refused, the priest allegedly put his hands inside her clothes and touched inappropriately.

A few excerpts of her Instagram post reads, "... There’s a priest there who would usually guide me through the rituals, since I’m new to all this. I don’t know much, and I’ve always appreciated his help. On that day, while I was praying, he approached me and told me he had some holy water and a protective string to tie for me; a blessing, he said. He asked me to see him after my prayers."

She added, "Just like he said, once I finished praying, I went to him. It was a Saturday, so the temple was crowded. He was the only one doing the individual blessings and rituals, so he told me to wait. I waited for about an hour and a half. Eventually, he told me to follow him. He took the holy water and the string and walked toward the office. Even as I followed, something didn’t feel right. Something in my gut was uneasy.

"Inside the office, he asked me to sit while he stood. He poured something, a very strong-smelling liquid, like rose or flower essence into the holy water. He said it was from India, and that they don’t usually give it to 'ordinary people'. He kept splashing that water on my face, so much that my eyes stung and I couldn’t even open them."

She continued, "Then he asked me to lift my Punjabi suit. I refused. He kept insisting it was “for my good,” but I told him I couldn’t because my blouse was tight. He got angry and scolded me asking what kind of person dresses tight like that. He splashed the water again and stood behind me.

"He kept murmuring something I couldn’t understand — prayers, maybe — and suddenly, he held my head and continued murmuring while touching me. Then, without warning, he put his hands inside my blouse, into my bra, and started touching me inappropriately. He said it would be a “blessing” if I did “it” with him because he serves God."

Lishalliny said she narrated the incident to her mother on July 4 and a police complaint was lodged on the same day.

She further alleged that the temple management was only caring about the temple name. The priest, the complainant claimed, was also accused of similar action by someone else.

The priest was not present when the actress went to the temple with the complaint.

The 2021 Miss Grand Malaysia winner said the probe officer seemed to take the temple chairman's side and warned her of getting blamed if she published the incident online.

Sepand District Police Chief ACP Norhizam Bahaman said as quoted by NDTV, "The suspect is believed to be an Indian national temporarily officiating at the temple during the absence of its resident priest."

The suspect's modus operandi was allegedly to sprinkle holy water on the victim's face and body before proceeding to molest her," Bahaman added.

The search for the priest is underway.