New Delhi: Former defence minister and one of the most colourful and influential political leaders in the country, George Fernandes, has gone missing.
Fernandes' friends allege that his estranged wife and son have forcibly taken him to an undisclosed location on the pretext of giving him medical care.
Fernandes is suffering from Alzheimer's disease and has almost lost his memory power.
"It is a tragedy that a man like George who gave voice to millions of voiceless can't voice his own problems. His wife is taking advantage of it. We want to know about him," says a close friend of Fernandes, Ajay Singh.
At the heart of the controversy is a family battle over Fernandes' legacy.
His estranged wife Leila and only son Sean Fernandes returned to his life after two decades claiming that his friends and brothers want to grab his property worth over Rs. 25 crores.
Four of his surviving brothers dismiss the charge as absurd.
"We don't want his money. We want access to him," says younger brother of Fernandes, Michael Fernandes.
Fernandes' friends led by former chief justice of India MN Venkatachalaih have started a signature campaign demanding information on him.
At his residence in New Delhi, the main gate has been shut and nobody knows where the once most formidable man is now living.
Meanwhile, his brothers are planning to approach a court seeking access and better medical care for him.
Parliament starts on Monday and the question is will the man who starred in many a parliamentary debate finally resurface?
(With inputs from Abhirr VP)
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