Kodagu Homestay Owner Moves High Court, Contests Allegations by U.S. Tourist
- Kodagu Express Bureau
- 11 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the State police to produce records related to a criminal case registered by the Kutta police in Kodagu district concerning the alleged rape of a 33-year-old U.S. citizen at a homestay in April.
The direction came while hearing a petition filed by the 55-year-old owner of the homestay, who has challenged the criminal proceedings initiated against him in connection with the case, according to The Hindu report. The owner has been accused of attempting to prevent the survivor from reporting the alleged sexual assault committed by the homestay's 45-year-old housekeeper, a native of Jharkhand.
Justice M. Nagaprasanna, who heard the matter, asked the Additional Public Prosecutor to secure the police records and adjourned further hearing on the petition. The court said the records were necessary to consider the petitioner's request for an interim stay on the criminal proceedings against him.
In his petition, the homestay owner has denied the allegations and claimed that the survivor never informed him, his wife or his mother about the alleged rape. According to the petition, all three family members were involved in managing the homestay.
The petitioner has also sought compensation from the police, alleging that he was illegally kept in judicial custody for 14 days before being released on bail. He contended that there was no material evidence against him and that he was not furnished with the grounds for his arrest.
The petition disputes the allegation that the owner forced the survivor to remain at the property after the incident, discouraged her from approaching the police and prevented her from communicating with others over the phone.
Referring to the survivor's complaint, the petition argues that she herself had stated that she did not disclose the alleged rape to the owner when she met him near the swimming pool on April 12. The meeting reportedly took place between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., after the alleged sexual assault is said to have occurred inside a tent between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on the same day.
According to the petition, the survivor approached the owner's residence around 10 p.m. on April 12 and requested accommodation in a secure room with a lock instead of a tent, where she had initially chosen to stay. The petition states that she was immediately provided a room and did not mention any incident of sexual assault at that time.
The owner has further claimed that the survivor accompanied him, his wife and mother to Ponnampet town on April 13. The petition states that she spoke over the phone with persons associated with the U.S. Consulate on April 14.
On April 15, the survivor allegedly undertook a day-long excursion after hiring a taxi with the assistance of the homestay owner. The petition states that she visited the elephant camp at Mathigodu, the Golden Temple at Bylakuppe and also went shopping before returning to the homestay around 6.30 p.m.
According to the petition, the survivor left the homestay in a taxi on April 16 and travelled to Mysuru, where she stayed in a hotel the following day. The owner has claimed that she gave an oral statement regarding the alleged incident to police officers at the residence of a Community Liaison Volunteer associated with the U.S. Consulate in Mysuru on April 18.
The petition also claims that the survivor declined to undergo a medical examination in Mysuru when police sought the homestay owner's remand.
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