A dramatic custody dispute has erupted in Karnataka after Russian woman Nina Kutina, 40, was discovered living in a cave in Gokarna’s Ramatirtha hills with her two daughters, Prema (6) and Ama (4). Her ex-husband, Israeli citizen Dror Goldstein, 38, is now fighting for shared custody, desperate to maintain a bond with his children.

Goldstein, who spends six months a year in Goa, told PTI Videos, "I just want to see my daughters a few times a week and care for them. If they go to Russia, staying connected will be tough." He claims he lost contact with Kutina and the girls after they left Goa months ago. "I found them on a Gokarna beach, but Kutina refused to let me see the kids since we’re separated," he said.

The couple met in Goa around 2017, traveling between India and Ukraine until their split a few years ago. Goldstein, who supports the family financially, said he filed a missing persons report when Kutina and the girls vanished from Goa. "I’ve been supporting them since our first daughter was born. I send money monthly and spend half the year here, limited by my visa," he explained. He also noted that Ama, born in India, may be an Indian citizen and should not be deported.

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Kutina and her daughters were found on July 11 during a police inspection prompted by a landslide in Kumta taluk. Authorities reported the trio had been living in isolation in the cave for nearly three weeks. Kutina, however, disputes media portrayals of their life. "It’s not what people think," she told PTI Videos, adding that their current accommodation is far from ideal. "It’s dirty, lacks privacy, and we only get plain rice. They even took my son’s ashes—he passed away nine months ago."

Goldstein, who rushed to Bengaluru upon hearing the news, said Kutina insists on raising the girls alone. "She told me from the start that if I don’t live with them, I shouldn’t be in their lives," he claimed. Undeterred, Goldstein is pushing for shared custody to ensure he remains a part of his daughters’ lives.

The case has drawn attention to the family’s unconventional lifestyle and the complexities of international custody disputes. As the legal battle unfolds, questions remain about where Prema and Ama will call home—and whether their parents can find common ground for their sake.

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