The owner of a Karnataka homestay accused of preventing an American tourist from seeking help after she reported being raped has submitted a petition to the state high court questioning the legality of his arrest and the charges against him.
The petition claims to cite WhatsApp conversations, telephone calls, and an email sent by the victim that allegedly do not refer to any incident of rape or sexual assault.
The homestay owner, Palakanda Vishal Ponnapa, has also challenged the legal basis of his arrest, citing that the rape allegation was directed solely against the housekeeper and not against him.
The petition further alleges that investigators failed to secure potentially important digital evidence, including WiFi logs, router records, and call detail records.
The police have maintained that the investigation remains ongoing, with forensic examination and digital evidence collection underway.
