NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, August 7, 2024: In a dramatic turn of events, police have revealed that Lalita Kayi, an American woman who was found chained to a tree in the dense forests of Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district, had shackled herself. This revelation comes after Kayi, 50, was rescued approximately 10 days ago by local shepherds who heard her cries for help.
Initially, Kayi had alleged in a written statement to the police that her husband had chained her and abandoned her in the forest without food or water. This claim led authorities to form several teams to investigate the incident, as the discovery had sent shockwaves through the region.
However, in a recent update, Saurabh Agarwal, Superintendent of Police for Sindhudurg, told BBC Marathi that Kayi has since recanted her earlier statement. She now claims she is not married and that she was likely experiencing hallucinations when she initially spoke to the police. According to Agarwal, Kayi admitted that she had been distressed over her visa expiring and her dwindling finances, which led her to buy chains and lock herself to the tree.
Kayi is currently receiving treatment in a psychiatric facility, where her condition is reportedly improving. Kayi has been in touch with her family in the United States, who have been traced by authorities, according to BBC Marathi.
Earlier reports had described the dramatic circumstances of Kayi’s discovery. On July 29, local shepherds in the Karadi forests near Sonarli village found her in a state of distress, chained at her hands and feet. The shepherds alerted the Banda police station, and Kayi was swiftly transported to Goa Medical College & Hospital in Bambolim, where she received initial treatment for dehydration and malnutrition after enduring several days without food amid heavy rain.
Police had initially discovered a US passport bearing an expired visa stamp and an Aadhaar card with a Tamil Nadu address, believed to belong to Kayi’s alleged husband. This led to an extensive investigation involving teams dispatched to Mumbai, Goa, and Tamil Nadu to trace her husband and verify her identity and citizenship status.
Despite the initial claims and the gravity of the situation, authorities are now considering the possibility that Kayi’s actions were driven by mental health issues, as she is currently under psychiatric care. The US embassy has declined to comment on the matter, citing Kayi’s right to privacy.
Photo courtesy: Sindhudurg District Hospital
