A 46-year-old French woman was allegedly sexually assaulted by a tourist guide at Deepamalai hill, a sacred site in Tiruvannamalai district. The survivor, who had been staying at a private ashram since January 2025, managed to escape and report the crime, leading to the arrest of the accused.
It is also reported that the woman was taken to the hill with the promise of gaining ‘moksha’ (Salvation), as per a report on India Today.
Incident Details
The French woman had hired Venkatesan as a guide to explore Tiruvannamalai’s cultural and mythological heritage. After showing her around the town, she expressed a desire to meditate on Deepamalai hill, a site known for its spiritual significance, as per Tamil reports.
Currently, a ban on public access is in place at Deepamalai hill following a landslide last year. However, the woman accompanied by a group of guides, including the accused Venkatesan, climbed the 2,668-foot-high hill.
According to police reports, she entered a cave to meditate at which point Venkatesan also entered the cave and allegedly sexually assaulted her, as per reports. The woman fled the scene and descended the hill before giving a complaint at Tiruvannamalai West Police Station.
Investigation
Following her complaint, special police teams were formed to investigate the case. The All Women Police Station registered an FIR, and Venkatesan was arrested. Authorities confirmed that the survivor has been admitted to the district government hospital for medical treatment and counseling.
Tiruvannamalai is a global spiritual hub, drawing thousands of tourists and devotees every year. From January to June, the town sees an influx of over 1,000 international visitors from France, China, the UK, the US, and Germany, many of whom stay in private ashrams for meditation and spiritual practices. They also visit Annamalaiyar shrine and Ramana Maharishi ashram in the district.
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