A family caught in prolonged legal and financial difficulties in the kingdom has finally returned home after almost three years, with assistance from an expat organisation.
The Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC) facilitated the return of Sandeep Thundiyil, a native of Mahe, India, after his business collapsed under financial strain.
His wife Shemina and daughter Ivani left the kingdom in late August last year, and Mr Thundiyil reunited with them yesterday at noon.
Mr Thundiyil first arrived in the kingdom in 2011 and launched a business called Avantio under his wife’s name in 2019. However, the venture faced severe challenges, and by 2022, he was unable to renew the Commercial Registration, leaving the family undocumented.
Mounting financial difficulties led to multiple legal cases related to rent and business liabilities, compounding their hardship.
Shortly afterwards, the couple welcomed a daughter, Ivani, at Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC). However, they were unable to pay the BD150 hospital charges, which meant they could not obtain a birth certificate for Ivani. As a result, the child remained undocumented and deprived of basic rights, including healthcare.
Over time, the family lost their residence and belongings, surviving only through the kindness and generosity of friends.
Their situation worsened when Mr Thundiyil’s passport was lost, and his wife’s passport was allegedly withheld by a former landlord as leverage for unpaid rent. This left the family completely helpless, unable to initiate any legal or repatriation procedures on their own.
He was unable to obtain a new passport from the Indian Embassy due to four pending legal cases against him, all of which have now been resolved.
In July last year, the PLC stepped in to assist the family, providing comprehensive support that included legal intervention.
They facilitated the issuance of a birth certificate for Ivani, settled the outstanding charges at SMC, arranged emergency documentation through the Indian Embassy, and secured temporary accommodation while repatriation procedures were underway.
The embassy later provided tickets for Shemina and Ivani, enabling them to leave the kingdom through Bahrain International Airport on August 29, bound for Calicut.
Mr Thundiyil reunited with his wife and child just over four months later, flying to Calicut yesterday at noon – a critical time, as his father is reportedly seriously ill.
Before his departure, Mr Thundiyil expressed heartfelt gratitude to the PLC and the Indian Embassy for their unwavering support during such challenging times.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to PLC president Sudheer Thirunilath for standing by me and my family,” said Mr Thundiyil.
“When we were surrounded by problems, he held our hands and helped us move forward. This is a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid with mere words.
“I was able to receive a new life because the Indian Embassy and PLC stood with me. I will always remain indebted to them.”
Meanwhile, Mr Thirunilath has urged expatriate parents in Bahrain to ensure their child’s birth is registered within two weeks to avoid potential legal complications.
“Many parents fail to collect their child’s birth certificate within the stipulated two-week period from the hospital where the delivery took place,” Mr Thirunilath told the GDN.
“This delay often leads to unnecessary legal complications, financial burdens and loss of valuable time.
“If the birth certificate is not applied for and collected within two weeks, the process becomes significantly more complex.
“Due to delays, parents are compelled to pay legal and administrative fees, execute a power of attorney, and file a legal case – all of which could take up to three months or more.
“Timely action will help avoid legal hurdles, save money, and ensure smooth documentation for the child’s future needs such as passport issuance, visa processing and other official requirements.”
nader@gdnmedia.bh
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