Born in 2021, Ariha was placed in foster care in Germany in September of that year after suffering an accidental injury, amid allegations of minor physical abuse.
New Delhi: Ariha Shah, an Indian girl in foster care in Germany, has started speaking some Hindi words, while her parents continue to visit her regularly, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was attaching considerable importance to the case and remained committed to the child's welfare.
Also Read
“Our embassy in Berlin has been in regular contact with Ariha, and as part of our consular visits, they have been regularly visiting the baby,” Jaiswal said during his bi-weekly media briefing.
He said India had also been in touch with German authorities regarding the matter.
“As I told you before, we have organised Hindi classes for her cultural immersion, along with temple visits and several other cultural exposures. She has started to speak some Hindi words. Her parents are also visiting her regularly, last on October 13. We remain committed to the welfare of the child,” Jaiswal said.
Asked whether Ariha's case had been raised during Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's meetings with German leaders, Jaiswal said he did not yet have details of the discussions. Goyal is currently visiting Germany.
“As for the visit of our commerce minister, who is presently in Berlin, I don't have a readout of his conversations there, but we will have one soon. We'll share them with you as soon as we can,” he said.
Ariha Shah's case raised with German leadership
Ariha's case was raised during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then-German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the latter's visit to India in October 2024.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri had told reporters at the time that Scholz assured Modi he was “very closely following” the matter.
Misri had also said India had repeatedly conveyed its concerns to Germany over Ariha growing up outside her cultural, religious and linguistic environment.
“We have at all levels impressed upon the German side that an Indian child growing up in an environment that is not hers – cultural, religious, linguistic environment – is somewhat unnatural and that this situation needs to be addressed,” Misri had said.
Why is Ariha Shah in foster care in Germany?
Born in 2021, Ariha was placed in foster care in Germany in September of that year after suffering an accidental injury, amid allegations of minor physical abuse.
Her parents, Bhavesh and Dhara Shah, are from Mira Bhayander in Maharashtra's Thane district.
India has continued to engage with German authorities over the case, while the MEA has reiterated its commitment to Ariha's welfare.
PTI
Published: 23 Oct 2026, 11:52 pm IST
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.