Police in Karnataka have arrested two men following the alleged drugging and sexual assault of a United States national at a homestay in Kodagu district. The victim, who was visiting the popular tourist destination of Coorg, told authorities she was held without communication after the incident occurred in Kutta village. The primary accused has been identified as Vrujesh Kumar, a native of Jharkhand who was employed at the homestay. According to the police complaint, Kumar allegedly drugged the woman before sexually assaulting her. Karnataka Shocker: US Woman Tourist Allegedly Se*ually Assaulted at Ponnampet Homestay in Madikeri, Police Investigation On.

Following the assault, the homestay owner was also taken into custody for his alleged role in attempting to suppress the crime. Investigators state that the owner intentionally "cut WiFi for 3 days" at the premises to ensure the victim could not contact the U.S. Embassy or local authorities. The victim eventually managed to leave the property under the pretext of traveling to Mysuru. Once she reached a secure location and regained internet access, she immediately contacted the United States Embassy to report the ordeal. The U.S. Embassy subsequently alerted the Mysuru police via email, prompting a swift coordination with Kodagu authorities. Based on this communication, a formal First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Kutta police station. Karnataka Shocker: 22-Year-Old Nagaland Woman Found Hanging in Chikkamagaluru; Diary Exposes Harassment ‘In the Name of Love’.

US National Drugged and Raped at Coorg Homestay

American woman allegedly sexually assaulted at a homestay in Coorg by a worker from Jharkhand. The homestay owner has also been taken into custody for allegedly failing to report the incident & not providing assistance to the victim. pic.twitter.com/NsAepwwjpU

— Deepak Bopanna (@dpkBopanna) April 22, 2026

Speaking on the development, the Kodagu Superintendent of Police confirmed that both the staff member and the owner have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for sexual assault and destruction of evidence. The two suspects were produced before a local court and have been remanded to judicial custody until May 3. Meanwhile, local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the homestay’s licensing and safety protocols as the legal proceedings continue.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 22, 2026 01:59 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).