Bengaluru: A 33-year-old man named Srikanth, employed as a forest watcher and driver at Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, was arrested on Saturday for allegedly raping a 17-year-old tribal girl on February 2, who later died by suicide, according to the police.

The incident came to light when some workers nearby noticed the two individuals together in a house and took pictures and videos of them, police revealed. Subsequently, upon learning about the incident, the tribal girl’s father confronted the accused and threatened to file a rape case against him unless he paid ₹8 lakh to keep the matter quiet. After negotiations, an agreement was reached to settle the matter for ₹4 lakh. The accused initially paid ₹3.5 lakh in cash to the tribal girl’s father, promising to pay the remaining ₹50,000 the next day. However, when the father demanded the remaining money, the accused refused to pay.

Following this payment dispute, the father complained to the police. However, the authorities initially did not register a case against Srikanth.

Tragically, upon learning that her father had accepted money from the accused to settle the matter, the tribal girl died by suicide on February 13, according to police reports.

In response to pressure from various authorities, including Women and Child Protection officers and local community leaders, the police finally took action. An FIR was registered against the accused driver, charging him under sections 376 (rape) and 306 (abetment to suicide) of the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Prevention of SC/ST Act and the Protection Of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The accused was produced before a magistrate on Sunday and remanded to 14-day judicial custody.

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