IANS

New Delhi, Feb 20: Veteran socialist leader and former defence minister George Fernandes is "secure and safe", maintains one of his close aides, denying reports that he was missing or abducted.

"He is secure and safe. He is with his wife, Leila Kabir. Some bad elements are spreading these rumours that he is abducted," S.D. Singh, a close aide of Fernandes, told IANS.

Leila Kabir told a television channel: "We are not hiding him. He is with us. He was taken to Haridwar."

Kabir and only son Sean Fernandes returned to George Fernandes' life after two decades, saying that his friends and brothers want to grab his property worth over Rs.250 million.

Fernandes, 79, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease, was under ayurvedic medication at the Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar till Thursday.

His brothers and friends alleged that Kabir and Fernandes had forcibly taken Fernandes to an undisclosed location on the pretext of giving him medical care.

His brothers are planning to approach a court seeking access and better medical care for him.