Father of missing Crystal Lake teen concerned for girl's safety

CRYSTAL LAKE – The father of a 16-year-old Crystal Lake girl who went missing this week and is presumed to be with a 28-year-old man said he disagrees with a Crystal Lake police investigator's presumption that his daughter is in no danger.

Kalyani Sudhir, who was last seen Tuesday, boarded a train in Crystal Lake after voluntarily leaving her home, according to a news release from Crystal Lake Police Cmdr. Tom Kotlowski. Police said Kalyani was last seen at 6 p.m. at Ogilvie Transportation Center in Chicago.

“We don’t know where she went from there,” Kotlowski said.

Kalyani might be with Nithin Nainwal, a 28-year-old police said might have a black 2008 Hyundai with a license plate reading “V596324.” Kotlowski did not know the relationship between Kalyani and Nainwal, but said friends and family suggested it’s possible they’re together. Kotlowski said he does not believe Kalyani is in danger.

But Sudhir Nair of Crystal Lake said he has been frustrated with the response from Crystal Lake police since July when he said he told them he believed his daughter has a relationship with Nainwal, who once worked at Nair’s gas station.

Nair said he has been trying to obtain a court order to prevent Nainwal from contacting his underage daughter. But Nair said Nainwal is an undocumented immigrant and has been difficult to find so that court papers could be served.

“Now she is missing, and the police say she is safe. How can they say that?” an emotional Nair said. “He has kidnapped her – not physically, but mentally.”

Nair said his daughter is a Crystal Lake South High School student who gets good grades but does not have any friends, which is why he said he is particularly concerned about the influence a 28-year-old man, who has been speaking to her since the spring, could have on her.

Nair said he fired Nainwal from his gas station in early July when he learned about the potential relationship he had with the girl.

Police said Kalyani is 5 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 125 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes.

Police ask anyone with information on Kalyani or Nainwal's location, or the location of the Hyundai, to call the police department at 815-356-3620. Tips also can be texted anonymously to 847411 with the keyword "TIPCLPD" in the text.

• Northwest Herald News Editor Kevin Lyons contributed to this story