NRI Mom Suicide After Kids With Aus Govt Custody

Priyadarshini Lingaraj Patil, a 40-year-old NRI woman from Australia, tragically ended her life in Karnataka’s Belagavi district. Her suicide note has brought to light unsettling allegations of harassment against Australian authorities and certain residents in a Sydney neighborhood. The incident has shed light on her distressing battle for custody of her children.

Hailing from Dharwad, Priyadarshini’s journey from Australia to her homeland took her from Bengaluru to Hubballi and finally to Belagavi by bus, where she took the fateful step. Her ordeal began when her son Amartya encountered health problems. While undergoing treatment at a local hospital, the child reportedly began experiencing side effects. Priyadarshini’s inquiries went unanswered by the hospital, prompting her to lodge a complaint against the medical institution with the government.

Allegedly, the hospital authorities then accused Priyadarshini of being incapable of caring for her children. Subsequently, the government took custody of her two kids. Despite her fervent protests, Priyadarshini’s efforts to regain custody proved unsuccessful. Desperate for a solution, she pleaded with the Australian government to revoke her children’s citizenship, hoping to bring them to India for treatment. Regrettably, she received no response from the government.

In her poignant suicide note, addressed to her father, Priyadarshini wrote, “Our lives are threatened. I am compelled to end my life for the survival of my children and husband Lingaraj. I am accepting my death for the good of my family.” She accused Australia’s Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) of causing harm to her family and also implicated residents of Verlie Street in Sydney, alleging harassment.

She also mentioned a distressing incident involving a police officer’s family and even claimed that the water supplied to her house was poisoned. Currently, the police are actively investigating the circumstances leading to her tragic decision. This incident sheds light on the complexities faced by NRIs dealing with legal battles abroad and the emotional toll it can take.