Overview
- The High Court refused a blanket interim stay and told the state to produce the entire investigation record for judicial review, a direction made when the matter came up for hearing this week.
- Police say a 33-year-old U.S. tourist was allegedly drugged and sexually assaulted at the homestay on April 12 and the accused housekeeper was arrested and remains in custody after a trial court denied his bail.
- Homestay owner Palecanda Ponnappa, who was arrested on charges of concealing the incident and later granted bail, has challenged the FIR, sought quashing of charges and asked for ₹15 lakh in compensation.
- The owner disputes the prosecution’s narrative with WhatsApp messages, call records, CCTV footage and travel evidence he says contradict the complaint, while investigators say key digital and forensic steps such as Wi‑Fi/router logs, call detail records and medical reports are still being collected.
- The case prompted involvement by the U.S. Embassy and India’s Ministry of External Affairs and has prompted renewed scrutiny of homestay licensing and safety procedures in the state, with courts and police expected to weigh procedural safeguards in upcoming hearings.