Bengaluru, June 9: The Karnataka police will present an investigation report to the High Court on Tuesday regarding a case where an employee from Jharkhand allegedly sexually assaulted an American tourist at a homestay in Madikeri.
A bench led by Justice M. Nagaprasanna issued directives to the government during a hearing on a petition filed by the accused homestay owner, Palekanda Ponappa, also known as Vishal. He sought an interim stay on the ongoing investigation against him.
On Monday, the court remarked that a serious crime like rape against a foreign woman had occurred in the country, calling it a deeply concerning matter. The court stated that it is not possible to halt the case at this stage and emphasized the need to review documents related to the investigation. It also noted that serious allegations against the homestay owner must be substantiated.
The petitioner argued that the owner is not accused of rape and that other alleged offenses are bailable. He also claimed that his arrest without prior notice violated his fundamental rights.
The court has postponed the hearing of the case until Wednesday, June 11.
In April 2026, a female traveler from Washington was staying at the villa. The accused, a cook named Vrijesh Kumar from Jharkhand, is alleged to have drugged the woman’s sweet drink. According to the complaint, after the woman lost consciousness, Kumar sexually assaulted her.
Investigations revealed that the homestay owner, Vishal, allegedly attempted to cover up the incident. It is claimed that after the assault, Vishal disabled the property’s Wi-Fi for three days to prevent the victim from contacting the American embassy or local authorities.
The victim eventually escaped her captors by claiming she was going to Mysore. Upon arrival, she immediately contacted the American embassy, leading to the involvement of the Foreign Ministry and local police, who subsequently filed a criminal case.
Police have arrested both Vrijesh Kumar and owner Vishal, following public outrage over the incident. Officials from the Foreign Ministry visited Madikeri to monitor the progress of the investigation. The tourism department reported that the establishment had only received its license in January 2024 but allegedly violated all safety standard operating procedures (SOPs). Former Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed to the media that swift police action thwarted attempts to suppress the case as soon as the report reached Mysore.
Parameshwara stated, “Such incidents are shameful for our state and Indian society, especially when foreign nationals are involved.” He emphasized that the government has instructed district administration to strictly enforce safety regulations across all homestays in the area.
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