Karnataka: Russian Woman Found Living In Cave With 2 Daughters
A Russian woman and her two daughters were found living illegally in a Gokarna cave for 8 years and are now being deported.
In a surprising case from Gokarna, Karnataka, police found a foreign woman and her two small daughters living alone in a cave for many years.
On 11th July 2025, a police team led by Inspector Sridhar SR was checking the Ramateertha Falls area after a landslide. While patrolling in the forest, they saw clothes hanging outside a cave. When they went inside, they found a Russian woman named Nina Kutina (also called Mohi) and her daughters, six-year-old Prema and four-year-old Ama.
Nina told the police she came to meditate and perform Hindu rituals. She had small idols of Lord Shiva and Lord Ram inside the cave and spent her days doing puja and meditation. The police were shocked to see the family living in such difficult conditions, sleeping on plastic sheets and eating instant noodles.
The police later found Nina’s passport and visa, which had expired in April 2017. This means she was staying illegally in India for over 8 years. Her daughters were born in India but had no valid documents.
The police moved Nina and her daughters to a women’s shelter where they are now getting food, proper shelter, and medical help. Officials have informed the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Bengaluru. They are now starting the legal process to deport Nina and her daughters back to Russia.
The police said living in the forest, especially with children, is very unsafe. They are thankful nothing bad happened to the family.
Authorities are still looking into the case, and legal action is in process.
