In response to the sexual assault of an American woman tourist in Madikeri district, the Tourism Department has revoked the license of the homestay where the incident took place. The victim, a tourist visiting from the U.S., was staying at Devi Villa Homestay in Kutta village when she was allegedly drugged and assaulted by the cook, Vrijesh Kumar. The Tourism Department shut down the homestay, which had been licensed in January 2024, due to safety lapses and involvement in illegal activities.
The district administration has issued stringent directives mandating all homestays in the district to comply with tourist safety regulations. The victim, who had checked into ‘Devi Villa’ homestay for a vacation, reported being raped by the cook during her stay. Allegations have surfaced that the homestay owner, Vishal, obstructed her from seeking help by disconnecting the Wi-Fi for three days to conceal the incident.
Both the accused cook, Vrijesh Kumar, and the homestay owner, Vishal, have been apprehended by the police and placed in judicial custody. Following the assault, the victim managed to leave the homestay after three days and sought assistance upon reaching Mysuru, where she contacted the American Embassy to report the incident. Subsequently, a case was registered at a police station in Mysuru based on the Embassy’s instructions.
Ministry of External Affairs officials from Delhi and Chennai visited Kodagu after the incident came to light. The accused individuals remain in custody until May 3 as per the court’s orders. Karnataka Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, emphasized the importance of upholding the law in such cases and ensuring that homestays adhere to licensing regulations to prevent similar incidents. He condemned attempts to conceal the assault and stressed the need for strict actions against such offenses.
