Urgently Seeking Support to Reunite with My 16-Year-Old Son

Hi, my name is Rishi G. Verma, and I am in acute need of money and legal help so that I can join my 16-year-old son, Anish K. Verma, who has been without me for over 3 years.

My family led a harmonious and happy life until 2022. My wife, Dr. Ritambhara Agarwal, son Anish, and I were quite close and attached. I was employed working with Amazon in Michigan, and my wife was working with Pfizer as a Medical Officer. My family was all very excited and getting ready for our Bahamas Cruise, which was going to happen in the fall of 2022.

Late in August 2022, a few days before my birthday, my spouse informed me that she and our son were moving to India. My wife said she had a serious medical problem with her feet and wanted to recover in India. She informed me that they were already at the airport getting on the plane. They wouldn’t even let me talk to my son. I hoped that this was a single medical visit and they would resume soon.

However, when they arrived in India, they could only communicate occasionally. I continued asking questions about how my son was doing in school and whether he was coming back, but I was not given direct answers. The question of his day-to-day life, education, and medical care remained unknown to me. This information vacuum and distance were a great concern to me as a father. In May 2023, I lost my father, whom I admired the most, as my ideal. This was an emotional period for me, but I still tried to keep in touch with my family. At this time, I was not in touch with my wife and son.

My wife said that her health issues were getting worse. She shared how it was painful, but she never mentioned specifics of how my son was being taught, how he was being medically attended to, and where he was staying. I was further concerned about his well-being because I know he needed a lot of care and attention. I was aware that my son had eye problems where his eyes used to turn red when it was hot weather, and to get treated, he applied special eye drops, which were only sold in the USA. She did not tell me whether she wanted me to buy and ship them. I supposed it was possible that she had brought spares with her to India.

In 2024, I got the news of the demise of my wife due to Motor Neuron Disease. It was shocking for me, and I was trying to overcome the news. I went to India for a bit along with my mother, sister, and niece. I had one principal and immediate objective: to get my son home safe and well, attended to, after such a great loss. When I went to India, I tried to locate my son and join him. However, I was really struggling with accessing clear information or direct access. I asked local authorities, the FBI, and International Child Abduction Services and showed my case, but they referenced that the case should be processed through legal measures since it is an international and custodial one.

I also sought legal advice from international family lawyers. I have heard that cross-border custody can be a complex matter, especially when one of the parents has died, and the child resides in a different country. I was recommended to get good legal representation that would be able to deal with international legal frameworks and governmental coordination.

Several attempts were made, but unfortunately, I could not resolve the situation and join my son in the country where I stayed, India. I, at one time, returned to the United States with my family with the hope that one day there would be a legal recourse that would allow me to safely bring my son home.

In late 2025, I got in touch with my son. He asked for a gift for Christmas and his birthday. One time, I asked him about his health and asked to send my insurance card, but he still quit. Then I found my in-laws were having a shortage of funds. I was happy in one way that he started communicating with me a little more. The health and safety of my son are my main concerns. I would wish to make sure that he gets the appropriate medical attention, good education, and develops in a healthy and conducive atmosphere. He is a young and bright boy with a good future, and I will ensure that he is brought back to his life.

I am now seeking to recruit an experienced international legal assistant who will assist me in this complicated situation and attempt to reunite. But the approximate price of good legal representation and proceedings is between $275,000 and $300,000. This is a financial burden that, as an individual, I cannot shoulder.

The funds will be used directly to get qualified legal representation and meet the costs of going after the safe release of my son. No donation, no matter how small, will be far from being reunited with my child. Although you may not be able to give a donation, you would do me the favor of spreading this campaign.

I simply want to get my son home, establish a relationship with him as a family, and give him the care, stability, and love that he has been denied because of years of being away. I am deeply thankful to all of you who spend time reading my story and giving me some encouragement.

Thanks, God Bless you!