Bengaluru: A 19-year-old college student has alleged that she was gang-raped by two men after being forced to consume an intoxicating substance at a private villa in a posh locality of Bengaluru, police said.

The survivor, a first-year BA student originally from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, had been living in Bengaluru for the past five months to pursue her studies. Based on her complaint, a case has been registered at the Amruthahalli Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to sexual assault and criminal intimidation.

Acquaintance through social media

According to the First Information Report (FIR), the woman became acquainted with one of the accused, Dixon Sando (21), through Instagram in January this year. The two allegedly remained in regular contact and had met on a few occasions in the city prior to the incident.

Police said that on the night of February 14, after attending college and later meeting a friend for dinner in Banashankari, the woman received a call from Dixon inviting her to a party at a private property identified as Rex Villa in north Bengaluru. She reached the venue along with a friend in the early hours of February 15.

At the gathering, Dixon allegedly introduced her to the second accused, identified as Nikhil (35).

Allegation of forced intoxication and assault

In her complaint, the woman alleged that after some time at the party, the two men forced her to consume a pink-coloured tablet. She stated that she began feeling dizzy and disoriented soon after and eventually lost consciousness.

The survivor further alleged that she was sexually assaulted inside a room at the villa while she was in a vulnerable state. She told police that she regained partial awareness during the incident and later found herself confined inside the room.

According to the FIR, she was subsequently dropped near a mall by the accused. She also alleged that the men threatened to kill her if she disclosed the incident to anyone or approached the police.

Delay in complaint

Police said the woman did not immediately report the incident due to fear arising from the alleged threats. On February 17, she sought medical treatment at a hospital in Bengaluru as she continued to experience physical and emotional distress.

She later informed her brother about the incident, following which she approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. Based on her statement, an FIR was registered against the two accused.

Investigators said medical examination procedures were conducted in accordance with legal protocols, and statements are being recorded as part of the investigation.

Counter-complaint of extortion

In a parallel development, police confirmed that one of the accused had filed a complaint on February 21, alleging an attempt at extortion. In his complaint, he claimed that the woman, along with a person identifying himself as Imran from a regional news channel, demanded money and threatened to air defamatory content if payment was not made.

Police sources said this complaint was lodged a day before the survivor filed her sexual assault complaint. Authorities are now examining both the allegations of gang rape and the counter-claim of extortion to establish the sequence of events and verify the claims made by both sides.

Investigation under way

The accused have been booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to sexual assault and criminal intimidation. Police officials said further investigation is in progress, including verification of digital communication, forensic examination of evidence and questioning of individuals present at the gathering.

Senior officers stated that all aspects of the case will be examined impartially and that appropriate legal action will be taken based on the findings.

The case has once again raised concerns over the safety of young students in metropolitan cities and the potential risks associated with social media acquaintances. Police have urged the public, especially students, to exercise caution while interacting with individuals met online and to report any suspicious or threatening behaviour promptly.