Davanagere gang-rape: 10 arrested after woman drugged, assaulted by youths who offered lift
Synopsis
A 41-year-old woman walking home after a domestic dispute was allegedly drugged, taken to a secluded spot, and gang-raped by 10 youths in Davanagere, Karnataka. The accused then threatened her with a video recording to ensure her silence — but when the footage surfaced online, she filed a complaint at 12.30 am, and all 10 were arrested within hours.
Key Takeaways
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by 10 youths in Channagiri taluk, Davanagere district , Karnataka on 3 June 2025 .
The accused allegedly drugged the survivor by mixing alcohol into a cold drink before taking her to a secluded location.
The accused reportedly recorded the assault and threatened the survivor with the video to prevent her from reporting the crime.
The survivor filed a complaint at Basavapatna police station at 12.30 am on Tuesday after the video allegedly surfaced on social media.
All 10 accused — including one minor — were arrested and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days .
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by a group of 10 youths in Davanagere district, Karnataka, after being offered a lift while walking alone at night following a domestic dispute. The incident, which reportedly took place on 3 June, occurred within the limits of Basavapatna police station in Channagiri taluk. All 10 accused, including one minor, have since been arrested.
How the Incident Unfolded
According to police, the survivor had allegedly quarrelled with her husband and was walking alone at night toward her parental home when a group of youths approached her. They reportedly befriended her and offered to drop her off by motorcycle. Police sources allege the accused mixed alcohol into a cold drink and gave it to the woman, after which she became unconscious or disoriented.
She was then allegedly taken to a secluded location, where the group reportedly assaulted her one after another. The accused allegedly recorded the act on a mobile phone and threatened the survivor, warning her not to speak about the incident or the video would be uploaded on social media.
How the Case Came to Light
Due to the threat, the survivor initially remained silent. However, after the video allegedly surfaced on social media, she approached Basavapatna police station at approximately 12.30 am on Tuesday and filed a formal complaint. A case was registered against all 10 accused by 4.30 am, and the arrests followed within a few hours — a swift response that police described as priority action.
Accused Identified and Remanded
Police identified the arrested individuals as Ishtree Nagaraj, Arjuna, Basavantha, Kunduru Maruti, Hegga Maruti, Manu, Jogi Sunil, Pradeep, Madhu, and one minor in conflict with the law. All accused were medically examined at Channagiri taluk hospital and produced before a magistrate, who remanded them to judicial custody for 14 days.
Investigation Ongoing
Police confirmed that further investigation into the case is underway. The use of a recorded video as a tool to silence the survivor has drawn attention to the compounding trauma of digital threats in sexual assault cases — a pattern increasingly flagged by rights groups across India. The case is being monitored closely given the number of accused and the involvement of a minor.
Point of View
Not proactive. That all 10 accused were arrested within hours of the complaint is commendable, but the deeper question is why the incident went unreported for six days. Karnataka has seen a series of high-profile sexual assault cases in recent years; what remains absent is a credible deterrence framework, particularly for cases involving minors as co-accused.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Davanagere gang-rape case?
A 41-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by a group of 10 youths in Channagiri taluk, Davanagere district, Karnataka on 3 June 2025. The accused reportedly drugged her, took her to a secluded spot, assaulted her, and then threatened her with a video recording to prevent her from reporting the crime.
Who are the accused in the Davanagere gang-rape case?
The nine adult accused are Ishtree Nagaraj, Arjuna, Basavantha, Kunduru Maruti, Hegga Maruti, Manu, Jogi Sunil, Pradeep, and Madhu. A tenth accused is a minor in conflict with the law. All 10 have been arrested and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.
Why did the survivor not report the assault immediately?
According to police, the accused allegedly threatened the survivor with a video recording of the assault, warning her that they would upload it on social media if she reported the crime. She came forward only after the video reportedly surfaced online, filing her complaint at 12.30 am on Tuesday.
How quickly did police act after the complaint was filed?
Police registered the case against all 10 accused by 4.30 am — within two hours of the complaint being filed at 12.30 am. All accused were arrested within a few hours and produced before a magistrate after medical examination.
What charges are the accused facing?
The accused have been charged in connection with gang rape, based on the survivor's complaint filed at Basavapatna police station. They have been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days while investigation continues. Charges related to the recording and threatened dissemination of the video are also reportedly part of the investigation.
