Saturday, March 29, 2025
A 40-year-old Russian woman, Nina Kutina—also known as “Mohie”—was recently rescued from a remote cave near the Ramteertha Hill in Gokarna, Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. She had been living in seclusion for years in the forests and caves of India, along with her two daughters, six-year-old Priya and four-year-old Ama. Their reclusive life came to light when police discovered signs of human presence near the cave on July 9, 2025.
Kutina first arrived in India in 2016 on a valid visa. However, when her visa expired in 2017, she chose not to return to Russia. Instead, she retreated into the forests, gradually moving deeper into isolation. She gave birth to both daughters in the forest and raised them there without modern amenities or formal schooling.
The family survived on instant noodles, fruits, flowers, leaves, and natural resources. They slept on plastic sheets and used natural light for daily activities. Kutina told police, “Snakes are our friends—if we don’t bother them, they won’t harm us.”
Despite living in areas prone to landslides and dangerous wildlife, the trio managed to remain safe for years without external assistance.
Police found saris and plastic sheets near the cave, prompting an investigation. Inside, officers discovered a small idol of Lord Rudra, Russian spiritual books, and images of Hindu deities. Nina and her children were then rescued and moved to an ashram in Kumta Taluk, where an 80-year-old swami is now caring for them.
Authorities recovered Kutina’s expired passport and visa, confirming that she had overstayed since 2017. Initially, she claimed her documents were lost, but further investigation revealed that she had obtained an exit permit in 2018 to leave for Nepal—only to return to India illegally.
The Indian government has now initiated the legal process to deport Kutina and her daughters back to Russia. Her prolonged stay without valid documents and raising children outside the legal and healthcare system has raised serious concerns.
Nina Kutina’s story is both extraordinary and controversial. Choosing a life in nature over returning to her home country, she embraced complete detachment from society in favor of spiritual living and freedom. Now, with legal proceedings underway, her chapter in India may soon come to a close—but her years spent in India’s forests remain a powerful tale of self-reliance and spiritual escape.
