Overview

• India’s external affairs minister raised the case with the visiting German foreign minister, calling for a prompt resolution and the child’s upbringing in Indian surroundings.
• Ariha Shah was taken into German protective custody on September 23, 2021 at seven months old after an injury reported at a hospital.
• German authorities closed a sexual assault probe without charges, yet youth-welfare officials have kept her in foster care under child-protection procedures.
• Parents report visits roughly once every 15–20 days and say expiring visas heighten fears of permanently losing custody.
• The MEA objected to an abrupt shift to specialized foster care and sought consular access and cultural contact, while Jugendamt pursued a civil case to terminate parental rights.