Kodagu Homestay Owner Seeks Bail; Court Says Victim Need Not be Party to Plea

Image is for representation purpose only

Madikeri/Kutta: A homestay owner in Karnataka’s Kodagu district has approached a sessions court seeking bail after being arrested for allegedly withholding information about the sexual assault of a U.S. tourist by one of his employees.

The owner, who runs a homestay in Kutta in South Kodagu, was taken into custody on April 22. He has been accused of shielding the accused worker and failing to inform authorities about the crime, attracting charges under Sections 238 and 239 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deal with screening an offender and omission to report an offence.

According to The Indian Express report, during the initial hearing of the bail plea on April 24, the court directed that the survivor be made a party to the proceedings. However, this was reversed on April 25 after it was clarified that such a requirement applies only in specific cases under Section 483 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), particularly in cases involving the rape or gang rape of a minor under Sections 65 and 70(2) of the BNS. Accepting the argument, the court ruled that the victim’s inclusion in the bail proceedings was not necessary, the report published in The Indian Express stated.

According to police, the incident occurred on April 12 but came to light later. The survivor, who was travelling alone, alleged that a staff member spiked her drink and sexually assaulted her at the homestay. The accused worker, a resident of Jharkhand, has been booked for rape and criminal intimidation.

Authorities said the woman alerted officials at the U.S. embassy after leaving the property and reaching Mysuru. In her complaint, she also accused the homestay owner of attempting to suppress the incident and failing to assist her in reporting it. She later recorded her statement before a magistrate, supporting the FIR and aiding the investigation.

Police sources said that the accused worker had been employed at the homestay for several years. The survivor had previously visited the property with a friend, indicating familiarity with the establishment.

Both the worker and the owner were arrested last week and have been remanded to judicial custody until May 3.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government has taken administrative action in the case. The tourism department cancelled the registration of the homestay following the incident, citing violations of safety norms.

State Home Minister G. Parameshwara emphasised the need for strict compliance with regulations governing such establishments. “Homestay owners must strictly adhere to the guidelines. We have provided a standard operating procedure (SOP) covering who can run a homestay, whether they have valid licences, and the procedures to be followed,” he said.

The case has raised concerns over tourist safety and regulatory oversight of homestays in Kodagu, a popular destination for domestic and international travellers.

If you appreciate our work, please consider supporting us with a donation. You may contribute via Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm at: 9980855901

To advertise on The Kodagu Express website, kindly call us at 9108795369 or mail us at thekodaguexpress@gmail.com 

Join The Kodagu Express WhatsApp Group: CLICK HERE 

Follow us on Instagram and X(Twitter)