Karnataka High Court Orders Homestay Policy and Reserves Verdict in Kodagu Rape Case

The ruling pushes the state to set clear safety and licensing rules for homestays to address gaps that affect tourist security.

Overview

A 33-year-old US tourist has alleged she was raped at a Kodagu homestay on April 12 and filed a complaint that led to a criminal probe.
Police arrested a 45-year-old worker on charges including rape and later arrested owner Palecanda Ponappa on accusations of shielding the worker and tampering with evidence.
The accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including section 64(1) for rape and offences for intimidation, concealing designs to commit an offence, and giving false information.
The High Court reserved judgment on the owner’s petition to quash the FIR and seek compensation, read down the registration-cancellation order to a showcause notice, and allowed the owner to reply by June 24.
The court directed the tourism department to draft a comprehensive homestay policy because the current law does not address fire clearances, food and municipal licences, security standards, or other practical oversight gaps that affect visitor safety.