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A US national was allegedly sexually assaulted by a staff member at a homestay in Karnataka’s Kodagu district, police said on Wednesday. The incident reportedly took place about a week ago at a homestay in Kutta village.

Police said the accused, a native of Jharkhand employed in the hospitality section of the property, has been arrested. The homestay owner has also been taken into custody for allegedly failing to report the incident after the victim brought the complaint to his notice.

According to investigators, the woman alleged that her drink was spiked before she was sexually assaulted by the staff member. She further claimed that when she informed the homestay owner, he attempted to suppress the matter and allegedly cut off WiFi access for three days, preventing her from contacting anyone.

After regaining connectivity, she managed to leave the premises, reportedly under the pretext of travelling to Mysuru. She later approached officials at the US Embassy, who assisted her in contacting local authorities.

 

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Following her complaint, police registered a case of sexual assault and initiated proceedings. Kodagu Superintendent of Police Bindu Mani RN said all legal procedures were followed, and the accused were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.

Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said swift action was taken once the matter came to light. He stressed that homestays must operate with proper licensing and comply with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). He added that violations would attract strict legal action.

Parameshwara also said such incidents damage the state’s reputation, especially when involving foreign nationals, and questioned the image projected of society and the country. He noted that there appeared to have been an attempt to cover up the incident, but police intervened after receiving information and secured the accused.

Meanwhile, BJP MLC C T Ravi condemned the incident, calling it ‘deeply shameful and unacceptable’. He said the case goes against India’s cultural ethos of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ and urged swift and strict punishment for all those involved. He added that the incident not only harmed an individual but also tarnished the country’s image and values.