**Russian Mother and Daughters Living in Cave Allowed to Return Home by Karnataka High Court**
*By Snehil Singh | Sep 27, 2025, 7:12 PM*
The Karnataka High Court has permitted a Russian woman and her two minor daughters, who were discovered living in a cave in coastal Karnataka, to return home. Justice BM Shyam Prasad passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Israeli national Dror Shlomo Goldstein, who claims to be the father of the children. Goldstein sought a court directive to prevent their immediate deportation.
### Discovery of the Family Living in a Cave
The woman, identified as Nina Kutina, along with her daughters, was found on July 11 living in a cave at Ramatirtha Hills near Gokarna in Kumta taluk. They had been residing there for nearly two months without valid travel or residence documents. Last December, Goldstein had registered a complaint at the Panaji police station in Goa after being unable to locate his children in India.
### Emergency Travel Documents Issued
During the court hearing on Friday, it was noted that the Russian consulate issued emergency travel documents (ETDs) for Kutina and her daughters, valid until October 9. The court also considered Kutina’s communication with the consulate, where she expressed her desire to return to Russia at the earliest opportunity.
Goldstein’s counsel opposed deportation, citing the best interests of the children while custody proceedings were ongoing.
### Court Focuses on Child Welfare
The court observed that Goldstein had not provided a satisfactory explanation for the family’s prolonged isolation in the cave. Emphasizing child welfare, the bench stated that Kutina’s request to return home, coupled with Russia’s willingness to facilitate their repatriation, outweighed other factors.
During an earlier hearing on August 22, Goldstein’s legal team referenced the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Meanwhile, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Arvind Kamath assured the court that the family would receive care at the Foreigners’ Restriction Centre for Women pending the resolution of the matter.
### DNA Tests to Confirm Parentage
The ASG clarified that deportation would not proceed immediately as DNA tests were pending to confirm the parentage of the younger daughter. On Friday, the court was informed that the DNA results had been received and shared with the Russian authorities. This development led to the issuance of Russian citizenship and emergency travel documents, enabling their planned return.
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The Karnataka High Court’s decision brings relief to the mother and her children, allowing them to reunite with their home country while ensuring all legal and welfare considerations are addressed.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/russian-woman-daughters-found-in-karnataka-cave-permitted-to-return/story