Deportation of Russian woman’s 2 kids: Karnataka High Court grants time to Centre

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has granted time to the union government and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) to take their stand in writing within a period of two weeks on the deportation of two minor girls found with their mother Nina Kutina, a Russian woman, in a cave at Ramathirtha hills in Kumta taluk of Uttara Kannada district.

“Needless to state that, if there is any proposal for deportation before the next date of hearing, the respondents are at liberty to move the court,” Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav has said. 

The court was hearing the petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli national, seeking custody of his two minor daughters.

The petitioner moved the high court seeking a direction to the authorities to consider his representation to hand over the daughters to him and not to proceed with any sudden deportation from India to any other country.

He sought a direction restraining the authorities from deporting his daughters Prema Sai Kutina, who is six years and seven months old and Ama Kutina, who is five years and two months old.

Arvind Kamath, Additional Solicitor General of India, appearing for the union government and FRRO, submitted that the youngest child Ama Kutina has no records evidencing the birth or any other travel documents.

It was further submitted that since the issue is about non-possession of travel documents, there cannot be an apprehension regarding deportation for the present.

The ASG said that the question of deportation would be considered only after any stand is taken regarding travel documents of Ama Kutina.

Justice S Sunil Dutt Yadav adjourned the hearing to August 18, while granting time to the union government and the authorities to take their stand.

On July 11, 2025, the Gokarna police had visited the cave after receiving the complaint by a local resident. Nina Kutina, 40, along with her two daughters were moved to a rescue centre in Karwar.