Indian Man raped Tourist on Goa Beach in front of Husband

Police have arrested a 32-year-old Indian man for allegedly raping a British tourist on a beach in Goa.

It was reported that the accused attacked the woman at Arambol Beach in front of her husband after offering to give her a mud bath.

The woman and her partner had been at the beach on June 2, 2022, when Joel D’souza approached her. He posed as a masseuse and offered to give her a mud bath.

She obliged and he lured her to Sweet Water Lake where he raped her.

On June 6, the woman informed the police after consulting her family and the UK consulate.

An FIR under Section 376 (punishment for rape) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Pernem Police Station and D’souza was arrested.

Police confirmed that he was not a professional masseuse and had taken advantage of the woman because she was a tourist.

It is believed that D’souza was part of a group that offers illegal massages at Arambol Beach.

D’souza previously worked as a librarian at a school.

A police officer said: “We have contacted the police station concerned to get his past records. Currently, he is not working as a librarian.”

The victim was taken to hospital for medical examination.

A spokesperson from the UK Foreign Office said:

“We are providing consular support to a British National in Goa.”

Goa Police have begun cracking down on illegal massage parlours, hawkers, and touts operating in the state.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said: “We will take action against illegal massage parlours.

“I have already instructed the police department that all illegal massage parlours will be shut down from tomorrow.

“Only those who have a spa license and beauty parlour license, those who are registered with the health, police and tourism department, will be allowed to run.

“In Ayurvedic panchakarma centres, massage parlours, there should be Ayurvedic practitioners.”

Shobhit Saksena, Superintendent of Police, North Goa said officers have begun taking action, saying:

“All massage parlours have been directed to keep their licenses visible with the names of the masseuse.”

“Tourists are also being informed that no cross-massage is permitted in Goa which means males can be massaged only by a male masseuse and females only by a female.

“There is also an extensive crackdown on hawkers and touts.

“People are also advised not to take assistance from guides, touts and not purchase anything from hawkers.

“More than 100 hawkers have been booked in the last one month.”