No immediate deportation of Russian woman found in cave: Karnataka high court

BENGALURU: The Karnataka high court has ruled out immediate deportation of Nina Kutina, a 40-year-old Russian national found living in a cave in Kumta taluk along with her two minor daughters.

The court said the question of deportation will arise only after a decision is taken on the travel documents of the younger child. Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav made the observation while adjourning the hearing on a petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli national and father of the two girls.

Goldstein has sought directions to prevent deportation of his daughters — Prema Sai Kutina and Ama Kutina — from India. The family came into the spotlight after officials found Kutina and her children living in a cave in Uttara Kannada district.

The circumstances of their stay and the lack of valid travel or identity documents prompted intervention by authorities. During the hearing, Arvind Kamath, additional solicitor general of India representing the Union government, told the court that the younger child, Ama, has no documentation to prove her birth or any travel papers.

In light of this, Kamath submitted that the petitioner's apprehension regarding imminent deportation was not justified at present. He added that the deportation question would arise only after a decision on the child's documentation status.

Taking this into account, the court granted authorities two weeks to submit their position in writing. The matter has been posted to Aug 18.

Justice Yadav clarified if any proposal for deportation emerges before the next hearing, the respondents are at liberty to approach the court.

Partner to seek legal option to meet them
Before the matter reached the high court, Kutina's case came to light following an unusual discovery on July 11, when a minor landslide on Gokarna's Ramatirtha Hills prompted local police to conduct a safety inspection. Officials found Kutina living in a cave with Prema and Ama. The family had reportedly been living in isolation for nearly three weeks.

Kutina, who has been in India since 2017, initially entered on a business visa. After briefly travelling to Nepal in 2018 to obtain an exit permit, she returned to India and eventually chose to live a secluded life in the forests of Gokarna.

Goldstein, an Israeli musician and Kutina's former partner, rushed to India after learning about the incident. Goldstein, the father of both children, said he was unaware they were living in a cave. "By the time I got there, they had already left," he had said. The family had been moved by authorities to the Foreigners Detention Centre (FDC) in Tumakuru.

Goldstein, who had been in a relationship with Kutina since meeting her in Goa in 2017, claimed to have visited his daughters in India regularly even after their separation. He had attempted to see them at the detention centre, but officials denied permission, citing the absence of formal nod from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO).

Although Goldstein expressed interest in taking his daughters to Israel, he said he would not do so without Kutina's consent. He had told reporters at the time that he would pursue legal avenues to gain visitation rights.