Russian Woman Returns Home After Living in Karnataka Cave with Children: A Story of Spiritual Solitude and Visa Issues

The Russian woman, Nina Kutina, who was discovered residing in a cave in Karnataka's coastal region alongside her two young daughters, has successfully returned to Russia, according to Ivan Melnikov, Vice-president of Human Rights Defence Committee.

On September 27, Karnataka High Court granted permission for the Union Government to issue travel documents facilitating their return journey. An official from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office informed the BBC that they departed for Russia the following day.

Kutina, aged 40, was found on July 11 in the Ramatirtha Hills near Gokarna in Kumta taluk. She had been living there for approximately two months with her children, lacking proper travel or residence documentation.

She stated that she had traveled from Goa to Gokarna in search of spiritual solitude. Kutina explained her decision to inhabit the forest cave was driven by a desire to engage in meditation and prayer, away from urban distractions.

Defending her lifestyle choice, Kutina emphasized that her family had experience with jungle living and were not in danger. "I did not bring my children, my daughters to die in jungle. They did not feel bad, they were very happy, they swam in waterfall, they lived, had very good place for sleeping, a lot of lessons with art making, we made from clay, we painted, we ate good, I was cooking with gas, very good and tasty food," she told ANI.

Police investigations revealed she had entered India on a business visa valid until April 2017. The Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Panaji, Goa had issued an exit permit in April 2018. Records indicated she subsequently exited to Nepal and re-entered India in September 2018, thereby overstaying her permitted duration in the country.