Mystery surrounds the case of Lalita Kayi, an American woman who was found chained to a tree in the dense forests of Maharashtra, India. Her cries for help were heard by shepherds, who alerted the police. When rescued, she was emaciated and in poor health, but her condition has since improved, and she has been moved to a psychiatric facility for further treatment.
In her written statement to the police, Kayi alleged that her husband had chained her to the tree and abandoned her without food or water. The police are currently searching for her husband in the southern state of Tamil Nadu based on the information she provided. However, many details about how she ended up in the forest and the events leading up to her ordeal remain unclear.
Pandurang Gawkar, a cow herder who found Kayi, recounted the harrowing scene. I heard a woman screaming loudly from the forest. When I went there, I saw her leg tied to a tree, and she was screaming like an animal. I called other villagers and the local police, he told BBC Marathi.
The police found identification documents on Kayi, including her American passport and an Aadhaar card, which is a unique ID for Indian residents. She also had a mobile phone, a tablet, and a significant amount of money, which ruled out theft as a motive. Locals believe it was sheer luck that the herder happened to graze his cattle near where she was chained, as the vast forest could have easily concealed her cries for help for days.
Initial medical examinations revealed that Kayi had wounds on her leg and appeared to be suffering from a mental health condition. Dr. Shivanand Bandekar, the dean of Goa Medical College, mentioned, We do not know for how long she did not eat, but her vital signs are stable. As her physical health improved, she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital in Ratnagiri district.
Dr. Sanghamitra Phule, the superintendent of the psychiatric hospital, stated, Currently, her health is stable. She is taking medication, eating, and interacting with people. If she wants something, she can communicate it. She only knows English. This has allowed her to write notes about her ordeal, providing crucial information to the authorities.
Kayi's background adds another layer of complexity to the case. She was a ballet dancer and yoga practitioner in the United States before moving to India around ten years ago to study yoga and meditation in Tamil Nadu. Reports suggest she met her husband, whom the police have referred to as Satish, during this period. At some point, their relationship soured, leading to the current situation.
Despite her claims of being chained and left without food or water for 40 days, police are skeptical about the feasibility of surviving such conditions. They have registered a case of attempted murder against her husband and are actively investigating the matter across Tamil Nadu, Goa, and Maharashtra. They are also examining the mobile phone and tablet found with Kayi for additional clues.
The US embassy in Delhi has refrained from commenting on the case, citing the US Privacy Act, which restricts the dissemination of personal information. However, media reports suggest that the embassy is pressuring local authorities to expedite the investigation.
As the investigation continues, many questions remain unanswered about Kayi's harrowing experience and the events that led to her discovery in the forest. The case has captured international attention, highlighting the complexities and challenges faced by authorities in unraveling this mystery.
