In a disappointing development for Ariha Shah’s parents, Berlin’s Pankow local court has granted custody of the baby to the German state, rejecting the parents’ claim that their child’s injury was accidental. The court ruled on June 13, stating that the “best interests of the child are at risk.”
Dhara and Bhavesh Shah, the couple from Mumbai, had travelled to Germany in 2018 for work. During their stay, their baby girl, Ariha, accidentally fell and sustained an injury in her private area while playing.
The child was immediately taken to a local hospital and received medical attention. The hospital authorities subsequently summoned Bhavesh and Dhara Shah after suspicions arose of possible sexual assault based on the child’s injuries. The parents maintained that Ariha was accidentally injured by her grandmother.
On September 23, 2021, when Ariha was seven months old, she was placed in the custody of Germany’s Youth Welfare Office (Jugendamt) and has been in foster care ever since. The German authorities alleged that the child was being harassed by her Indian parents.
The Indian government has been actively advocating for Ariha’s return. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed concern over Ariha’s prolonged stay in German foster care, citing her social, cultural, and linguistic rights infringement. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also wrote to the Minister of External Affairs, seeking assistance in repatriating Ariha to India.
Ariha’s parents have expressed their faith in the Indian government and its efforts to bring their daughter back home. They have expressed confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, believing that they will work towards Ariha’s repatriation.
Following the court’s verdict, the parents released a statement placing their trust in the Indian government and symbolically handing over Ariha to the 1.4 billion people of India. The parents remain hopeful that Ariha will soon return to her home country.