(Image source from: Leander Paes caught in parental tangle})

Ace tennis star, Leander Paes seems to be battling rough times, personally. Leander and estranged live-in partner Rhea Pillai are caught in a bitter tug of war over the custody of their eight-year-old daughter, Aiyana Paes.

Paes, who is concerned about the safety and welfare of their little daughter,  wants the family court in Bandra to prohibit Rhea from taking the child out of the city without court's permission. He feels Rhea's "escapades, indiscreet and irresponsible behavior, lack of personal maternal supervision, volatile temper and self-indulgence create insecurity in the child and is detrimental to a healthy upbringing."

Though not legally married, his relationship with Sanjay Dutt's ex wife Rhea, took off in 2003 when they met on a flight from Goa to Mumbai.  The decade-old relationship hit the rocks when Paes discovered that he was not the only man in her life.

However, the tipping point came when Rhea allegedly refused to let their daughter accompany him to the ceremony when he won the Padma Bhushan award this year.

In his 30 pages long plea,  he details several annexures  that testifies he would be the better parent.

"From the time of her birth in April 2006 and despite his hectic work schedule, he has always been involved in looking after their child-from bathing and changing diapers to reading bedtime stories and putting her to bed."

It was he who helped diagnose the child's sleep apnea. He wakes her up for school, readies her and drives her to school. His life "revolves" around his daughter.

In the plea, he accuses Rhea of leading a lazy, self-indulgent and laidback life.

AW: Suchorita Choudhury