Foreign tourist assault case in Kodagu: two arrested, probe under way

Madikeri, : In a disturbing incident reported from Karnataka’s Kodagu district, police have arrested two persons in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a foreign national at a private homestay near the Kerala border.

The incident took place in Kutta village, where a woman from Washington, United States, was staying at a homestay identified as Devi Villa. According to police, the prime accused, Vrajesh Kumar, a native of Jharkhand, allegedly assaulted the victim after administering a sedative-laced drink.

Based on the complaint filed by the victim, the accused is said to have mixed intoxicating substances into a sweet beverage, following which she lost consciousness. The assault reportedly took place while she was in that condition. Acting on the complaint, Kodagu Police registered a case and arrested the accused.

In a significant development, the homestay owner Vishal has also been taken into custody. He is accused of attempting to suppress the incident and preventing the victim from contacting others. Police sources indicate that the victim was allegedly confined for nearly three days, during which the Wi-Fi at the homestay was disabled to restrict communication.

The case came to light after the victim left the premises stating she was travelling to Mysuru. From there, she contacted the American Embassy, which subsequently alerted local authorities via email. Following this, a formal complaint was registered and legal action was initiated.

Officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, including teams from Delhi and Chennai offices, visited Kodagu on Tuesday to review the situation. However, district authorities have remained cautious in sharing detailed information, citing the sensitivity of the case.

Both the accused have been produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody till May 3. “Investigation is ongoing, and it is not appropriate to disclose further details at this stage,” a senior district police official said.

The incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of tourists in homestays, particularly in popular destinations like Kodagu, which is known for its thriving tourism sector. Authorities are now under pressure to ensure stricter monitoring and regulation of such facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.