A Russian woman who made global headlines after being found living in a cave in India with her two young daughters has flown back to her country, an official told the BBC.
Nina Kutina, 40, and her daughters - aged six and five - were rescued on 9 July by policemen on a routine patrol in a forest in the southern state of Karnataka.
The woman, who did not have valid documents to stay in India, had been sent to a foreigners' detention centre along with her daughters.
Last week, the Karnataka high court asked the federal government to issue documents to Ms Kutina and her daughters to return home.
They left for Russia on 28 September, an official at the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) told BBC Hindi. Ms Kutina's minor son from another relationship, who was later found living in Goa state, also went with them.
The high court had been hearing a petition filed by Dror Shlomo Goldstein, an Israeli businessman living in Goa, who claimed to be the father of the two minor girls. He had asked the court to stop the children from being sent back to Russia and appealed for their custody.
Mr Goldstein hasn't commented on the court order yet. He has the option to appeal against it, but it's not clear whether a judgment in his favour could compel the children to be sent back to India.
The court, however, stated that despite Mr Goldstein's claims, the mother and the children had rather inexplicably been found in an isolated cave.
The police team that found the three had earlier stated they were on a routine patrol near Ramteertha hills in the Gokarna forest bordering the tourist paradise of Goa when they spotted brightly coloured clothes hung near a cave. When they approached, a little blonde girl ran out, prompting the officers to investigate further.
Inside, they discovered Ms Kutina and her other daughter, along with meagre possessions consisting of plastic mats, clothes, and instant noodles. The cave was in poor condition and leaking.
During interviews, Ms Kutina defended her lifestyle, asserting that she and her children thrived in nature. However, the authorities deemed the environment unsafe for the children due to potential hazards from wildlife.
As Ms Kutina prepared to leave for Russia, the court considered her appeal for a safe return and the urgent need for family reunification, given the complex backdrop involving the children's father.
While the future remains uncertain regarding custody, the family is now back in Russia, having received support from their embassy and the Indian court system.
