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US woman raped at Kodagu homestay; staffer, owner held
Two men were arrested for allegedly raping an American woman in Kodagu, India, after giving her a drugged drink. The homestay owner is also under investigation.
Two people have been arrested for allegedly raping an American national at a homestay after giving a drink laced with substances in Kodagu district, police said on Tuesday.
According to police sources, the victim, a Washington-based woman visiting India, was staying at a homestay in Kutta village. The accused is a resident of Jharkhand. The complaint stated that the woman was allegedly sexually assaulted after being given a drink laced with substances, police said.
A police officer involved in the investigation said, “The victim has alleged that she was administered a drink mixed with intoxicants, following which she was assaulted. Based on her complaint and supporting evidence, we have registered a case and taken the accused into custody.”
The case has taken a more serious turn with allegations against the homestay owner, who is suspected of attempting to suppress the incident. Police said the owner allegedly disconnected the victim’s WiFi access for three days, preventing her from contacting anyone or seeking help.
“Prima facie, there is evidence to suggest that the homestay owner tried to restrict the victim’s communication. His role is under investigation, and he has also been arrested,” the officer added.
Both the accused and the homestay owner have been remanded to judicial custody until May 3 by a local court. Police revealed that the victim managed to leave the homestay after three days, informing the owner that she was heading to Mysuru. Subsequently, she contacted authorities in the United States, following which American officials reached out to Indian police via email.
“Acting on communication from US embassy authorities, we initiated formal proceedings. The case was registered promptly, and investigation teams were deployed,” the officer said.
The incident has also drawn the attention of the ministry of external affairs, with officials from Delhi and Chennai contacted police to review the situation and coordinate further action.
However, the district administration has so far refrained from providing detailed public statements, citing the sensitivity of the case.
Police officers said further investigation is underway, including forensic examination and collection of digital evidence. “We are ensuring a thorough and impartial probe. All angles, including possible complicity, are being examined,” the officer stated.
