Kodagu (Karnataka): A US national visiting India was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted by a staff member at a homestay in Kutta village, Kodagu district. The incident, which occurred approximately a week ago, came to light on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, following the arrest of two individuals. The victim, a resident of Washington, alleged that her drink was spiked with intoxicants by a staff member—a native of Jharkhand—who subsequently assaulted her. The woman initially reported the matter to the homestay owner, but he allegedly attempted to suppress the crime by disconnecting her WiFi access for three days to prevent her from contacting authorities.
After three days of restricted communication, the victim managed to leave the premises under the pretext of travelling to Mysuru. Once safe, she contacted the United States consulate and embassy, who then alerted Indian police via email. Acting on this high-priority communication, the Kodagu police launched a swift investigation and arrested the Jharkhand native for the assault. The owner of the homestay was also taken into custody for failing to report the crime and for his alleged role in obstructing the victim’s attempts to seek help.
Both the accused staffer and the owner have been remanded to judicial custody until May 3, 2026, by a local court. The case has drawn significant attention from the Ministry of External Affairs, with officials from Delhi and Chennai coordinating with district authorities to review the investigation. Police are currently conducting forensic examinations and collecting digital evidence to ensure a thorough probe. This incident has raised fresh concerns regarding the safety and regulation of homestays in popular tourist circuits across Karnataka.
