Devasuria Subramaniam, 37, had intended to leave India and return to Malaysia to escape her mother-in-law, who, she said, had been abusing her over the three-month period she had been in India.
According to The Star, Devasuria had planned to board her flight to Kuala Lumpur from Tiruchirappalli yesterday, but was stopped at the airport by Indian immigration authorities because she had overstayed for 17 days.
Her husband, S Muralidas, had purchased Malindo Airways flight tickets from a travel agency for ₹21,000 (RM1,320), but she subsequently discovered that the tickets could not be rescheduled. She was also not entitled to a refund.
After a meeting with police in Ramanathapuram, Devasuria received a ₹2,000 (RM126) fine for overstaying. She said she did not have the required money to settle the fine.
However, Malindo Airways has stepped in by offering the woman free tickets to return to Malaysia.
Suresh Vanan, Malindo Airways’ public relations and communications manager, said the airline decided to help Devasuria and her son on humanitarian grounds.
Devasuria has also received help from other quarters.
Rudra Devi Samaj Malaysia deputy president G Gunaraj has arranged transportation for Devasuria and her son to travel to Tiruchirappalli International Airport on the day of the flight, while M Uma Maheswari from the Athmashanti Nilayam in Ramanathapuram will help coordinate Devasuria’s return to Malaysia, and even provide accommodation, should it be necessary.