Foreign tourist sexually assaulted; Accused nabbed within 24 hours

By Sumesh Rajan | April 04, 2025

 

Telangana, India: Police in Rachakonda Commissionerate have arrested a 25-year-old man for the alleged rape of a German tourist on the outskirts of Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana state. The swift arrest took place late April 1, barely a day after the crime was reported.

 According to police authorities, the accused, identified as Abdul Aslam, a resident of Yakutpura, committed the assault near Mamidipally under the jurisdiction of Pahadishareef Police Station. Aslam had previously worked as a driver in Dubai and had recently hired a vehicle via a ride-sharing app to drive around with local acquaintances.

The incident unfolded on the evening of March 31, when the victim and her German friend were staying at the home of an Indian acquaintance, Mangalagiri Sharath Chandra Chowdhury, in Meerpet, Ranga Reddy district. The two women had arrived in Hyderabad on March 4 as part of a leisure trip across India.

That evening, while on their way to a nearby vegetable market, the tourists were approached by a white Swift Dzire vehicle occupied by six people-- including the accused and several minors aged between 9 and 16. After a brief interaction, the group offered the women a ride, which they accepted.

Police reports state that the group drove through several areas, eventually reaching Mamidipally. There, the accused instructed the others, including the victim’s friend, to step out of the vehicle to take photographs. He then drove the victim a short distance away to a secluded area, where he allegedly threatened and raped her inside the car.

The woman managed to escape by jumping from the moving vehicle as it slowed down, reuniting with her friend shortly thereafter. She later filed a report with local authorities, with the assistance of her host, Sharath Chandra.

Police quickly launched an investigation, registering a case under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) -- India’s newly implemented criminal code. The accused was located and taken into custody by April 1 evening. Authorities have also seized the vehicle and conducted a medical examination of the victim.

The suspect has been remanded to judicial custody and will face trial following legal proceedings. In accordance with Indian law and Supreme Court guidelines, the identity of the survivor is being withheld to protect her privacy.

This case has sparked fresh conversations around the safety of foreign tourists in India and the importance of swift justice in crimes of sexual violence.