India remains one of the world’s most visited tourism destinations, drawing foreign travellers for its heritage sites, cultural diversity, and historical landmarks. However, over the years, multiple incidents of sexual assault and harassment involving foreign women tourists have been reported across different regions of the country. A review of cases from 2004 to 2026 shows that several such incidents involved local Muslims and Muslim tour guides or service providers, including auto drivers, hotel staff, and individuals offering tourist assistance. These cases span major tourist hubs, religious towns, and metropolitan cities.
The reported incidents involve women tourists from Australia, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Lithuania, and Nepal. The assaults occurred in varied settings such as hotels, rented vehicles, public streets, monuments, and houseboats. In multiple cases, the accused allegedly used their position of access or proximity to the tourists to commit the offences. Police investigations, court proceedings, and convictions have followed in several instances, while some cases remain part of ongoing legal or investigative processes.
Together, these cases reflect a recurring pattern of crimes against foreign tourists in India over more than two decades. The repetition of such incidents has implications for tourist safety, law enforcement preparedness, and international perception. The detailed incidents from December 1 to December 7, 2025, are given below.
Australian Tourist Molested in Udaipur, Auto Driver Arrested
Udaipur, January 15, 2026 – A 38-year-old auto driver has been arrested following allegations that he molested an Australian woman in Udaipur. The incident, reported to police on January 16, unfolded in the Sukhadia Circle area of the city.
The woman, who had arrived in India in the first week of January on a tourist visa and was travelling through different parts of the country, reached Udaipur on January 15. She hired an auto to explore the city and later visited a restaurant-bar in the Sukhadia Circle area.
According to her complaint to the Ambamata police, the auto driver, identified as Khajipir resident 38-year-old Tausif Ali, was under the influence of alcohol when the alleged molestation occurred inside the establishment. The woman left the location in fear and returned to her hotel.
On January 16, she went to the Ambamata police station to report the incident. Police said they reviewed CCTV footage from the vicinity and took Ali into custody. During questioning, the accused admitted to the act, saying he was heavily intoxicated at the time.
Authorities have seized relevant CCTV recordings as part of the investigation. No additional details from senior officials have been released, given the involvement of a foreign tourist.
70-Year-Old Maharashtra Tourist Allegedly Raped in Pahalgam Hotel; Accused Denied Bail
Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir), June 27, 2025, A Jammu and Kashmir court has rejected the bail application of a man accused of raping a 70-year-old woman from Maharashtra inside a hotel room in Pahalgam. The incident reportedly occurred on April 11 2025.
According to the prosecution’s statement in the court, the accused, identified as Zubair Ahmad , entered the woman’s hotel room when she was alone. He allegedly gagged her mouth with a blanket before committing the assault. After the alleged attack, the accused is said to have escaped through a window.
The victim, who was in Pahalgam as a tourist, sustained serious injuries and reportedly endured pain for several days after the incident, with difficulty in sitting or walking.
The Principal Sessions Judge in Anantnag denied the accused’s bail petition on June 27. In court proceedings, the judge described the incident as a reflection of moral degradation and “sick mentality,” noting the gravity of the allegations and the impact on the victim.
Court records indicate the accused remains in judicial custody. The prosecution presented prima facie evidence, including the complainant’s statement and medical reports, supporting the charge in the ongoing investigation.
Mewat Man Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of Lithuanian Tourist at Agra Fort
Agra, April 16, 2025 – A 21-year-old man from Haryana’s Mewat district was arrested on charges of sexually harassing a 23-year-old Lithuanian tourist at Agra Fort, police said on 17 Aprl 2025,Thursday. The incident occurred around 3 pm on 16 April 2025 ,Wednesday when the woman and her male companion were standing in the security queue at the monument.
According to the police, the accused, identified as Mizan, allegedly touched the woman inappropriately while they were waiting in line. When the act was repeated, the woman caught hold of him and alerted the tourist police present nearby.
Ruby Singh, station house officer of the tourist police, said a complaint was filed by the woman’s companion following the incident. Based on the complaint, a case was registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 75(2), which pertains to sexual harassment. The accused was arrested on the spot, produced before a court, and subsequently sent to judicial custody.
Police said the woman was taken to Agra district hospital for a medical examination, and her statement was recorded. The couple had been staying in Agra for six days and left for Delhi shortly after the incident to catch a flight on Thursday that means 17 April 2025.
An officer stated that the tourists are seasoned travellers who have visited more than 50 countries, including several destinations across Rajasthan and other parts of India. Their professional details have not been disclosed by the police.
This was the second such case reported in Agra within a fortnight. Earlier this month, a local man was arrested for allegedly sexually harassing and flashing a 30-year-old tourist from the Czech Republic near the Taj Mahal.
Following the consecutive incidents, Agra Police said they are considering enhanced patrolling and stricter surveillance at major tourist locations to ensure visitor safety.
German Tourist Allegedly Raped Inside Rented Car in Hyderabad; Accused Arrested
Hyderabad, March 31, 2025 – A 22-year-old German tourist was allegedly raped by a 24-year-old man inside a rented car in Hyderabad on 31 march 2025, police said.
According to the police, the accused has been charged with rape and arrested. The incident occurred near the Mamidipally area in the Pahadi Shareef region when the woman was travelling in the accused’s car to explore the city during Eid.
Rachakonda Police Commissioner Sudheer Babu said the survivor stated that she and another man from Germany arrived in Hyderabad on March 4 to visit a friend who had previously studied with them in Italy. On 31 march, the woman and her friend were in the Meerpet area to witness Eid celebrations when the accused approached them with four to five children in the car and offered them a ride around the city.
Police said the woman and her friend accepted the offer and travelled to several locations for about an hour, taking photographs along the way. At one point, after the woman’s friend and the children got down to take more photographs, the accused drove about 100 metres further, telling the survivor he was taking her to a better location.
According to the police commissioner, the accused then threatened the woman inside the car and allegedly raped her before fleeing the spot. The survivor later informed her German friend, after which the two lodged a complaint with the police.
Mr Babu said the accused had rented the car from an app-based service provider and had taken children from his locality on a long drive. During the ride, the group, including the foreigners, stopped at a fuel pump. A receipt obtained from the fuel pump helped police identify and arrest the accused.
A case has been registered, and a detailed investigation is underway, police said.
Two Nepali Nationals Arrested for Alleged Rape of Russian Tourist in Goa
Calangute, North Goa, December 1, 2022 – A 37-year-old Russian national was allegedly raped by two Nepali room boys at a hotel in Calangute in North Goa, police said on 2 December 2022 Friday. The two accused have been arrested, Goa Police confirmed.
According to the police, the accused have been identified as Sakhil Ansari, 23, and Sayumdhin Ansari, 23. Both are residents of Bardhiya district in Nepal. Superintendent of Police, North Goa, Nidhin Valsan, told ANI that the woman had arrived in Goa on 1 December 2022 Thursday and was staying at the hotel with two other people.
Police said the woman visited several tourist places during the day and returned to her hotel room on 1 December 2022 Thursday evening. The SP stated that the woman had consumed alcohol and went to her room to sleep, while the other two people staying with her were not present at that time.
According to the police account, one of the accused entered the room on the pretext of cleaning and allegedly raped the woman. Police said the survivor did not immediately realise she had been raped as she was under the influence of alcohol. Later, the second room boy allegedly entered the room and attempted to rape her, at which point the woman shouted for help, the SP said.
The police have registered a case in connection with the incident. Further investigation is underway, police said.
South Korean YouTuber Harassed During Live Streaming in Mumbai; Two Arrested
Mumbai, November 29, 2022 – Two youths allegedly harassed a South Korean YouTuber and vlogger, Kelly, while she was live streaming in Mumbai on November 29, 2022. The incident, which took place in a public area of the city, was captured on Kelly’s camera and the video subsequently went viral on social media.
Police identified the accused as Mobin Chand Mohammed Sheikh, 19, and Mohammed Naqeeb Sadriyalam Ansari, 20. Acting on the viral video, Khar Police registered a case against them under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with assault or criminal force to outrage a woman’s modesty, and took both into custody.
Three Sentenced to 20 Years Each in Gang Rape Case of Japanese Tourist in Dudu
Jaipur, February 8, 2015 – In a fast-tracked verdict, three men have been sentenced to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment each for the gang rape of a Japanese tourist in Dudu, near Jaipur, that occurred on February 8, 2015. The accused were identified as Ajit Singh Chaudhary (also known as Jitram), Wahid, and Abrar.
According to court records, the three allegedly took the tourist under the pretext of showing her local tourist sites and committed the assault in Dudu. The victim returned to her home country two days after the incident and came back two months later to assist in the identification of the accused and to record her statements before the court.
The High Court had directed that the trial be completed within two months. Following this, ADJ Court (4) conducted daily hearings and concluded the trial within the prescribed time.
In addition to the main accused, three others who provided shelter to the perpetrators-Shyuraj Chaudhary, Ramveer Singh, and Ramraj-were sentenced to two years’ imprisonment each. Ajit Singh Chaudhary was fined ₹66,560, while Wahid and Abrar were each fined ₹56,000. The three who provided shelter were fined ₹5,000 each. Three other accused-Dharmveer, Rajveer, and Ravindra-were acquitted. The judgment was delivered by ADJ Girish Kumar Ojha.
Main Accused in Park Street Gang Rape Case Arrested from Delhi
Kolkata, February 5, 2012 – Kader Khan, the prime accused in the Park Street gang rape case, was arrested by Kolkata police from Delhi on September 30, 2016. The case involves the gang rape of Suzette Jordan on the night of February 5, 2012, by five men, including Kader Khan, Ruman Khan, and Nasir Khan.
Suzette Jordan, the victim, passed away in March 2015 due to encephalitis at the age of approximately 40.
Following the trial, the City Sessions Court on December 10, 2015, convicted Ruman Khan, Nasir Khan, and other accused and sentenced them to ten years of rigorous imprisonment each. Kader Khan had remained absconding until his arrest in 2016.
Australian Surfer Held Captive and Raped in Srinagar in 2004
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, May 27, 2004 – Former Australian professional surfer Carmen Greentree has recounted being held captive and repeatedly raped by a houseboat owner in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, in 2004. The allegations are detailed in her new book, A Dangerous Pursuit of Happiness.
Greentree, then 22, had travelled to India to meet the Dalai Lama in Dharamshala. Upon her arrival in New Delhi, she was reportedly scammed by individuals posing as government tourism operators and convinced to take a flight to Srinagar. There, she was met by her alleged rapist, Rafiq Ahmad Dundoo, who held her captive on his houseboat, the YH Sunbeam, for two months. During this period, she claims Dundoo took her passport and belongings and raped her repeatedly.
According to Greentree, Dundoo’s family-his wife, parents, brother, and children-lived on the same boat but did not intervene. She stated that she was forced to wear traditional Kashmiri attire, pray five times a day, and read the Quran. She also alleged that Dundoo withdrew all her money from her accounts and coerced her to call her family for additional funds.
Greentree said she was rescued after a close friend, who had a dream about her being in danger, persuaded the Australian High Commission in Delhi to intervene, leading local police to rescue her. Dundoo and his brother, Shabir Ahmad Dundoo, were subsequently arrested and spent six months in jail, but were never convicted, as Greentree did not return to testify against them.
The incident came to light 16 years later through Greentree’s book. Reports at the time in 2004 contained some inconsistencies. Police officials then stated that she had initially escaped to Delhi and filed a complaint with the Australian High Commission, which prompted the Jammu and Kashmir police to investigate the matter.
Greentree now works in holistic medicine and has publicly shared her experience to raise awareness about her ordeal.
The incidents documented from 2004 to 2026 indicate that sexual assault and harassment of foreign women tourists in India has occurred across multiple states and tourist locations. The accused in these cases include local residents and individuals working in roles connected to tourism, such as drivers, hotel employees, and informal guides. Victims were targeted in both public and private spaces, often while travelling alone or relying on local assistance.
Despite arrests, court trials, and sentencing in several cases, the recurrence of such incidents over time highlights persistent concerns related to tourist safety and crime prevention. These cases underscore the importance of consistent law enforcement vigilance, stricter monitoring at tourist sites, and accountability mechanisms to prevent crimes against foreign visitors and protect India’s standing as a global tourism destination.
