British woman, 54, ‘raped by masseur in a five-star Indian hotel’ days before Christmas as cops hunt predator

COPS in India are hunting a masseur who allegedly raped a British woman at a five-star hotel just days before Christmas.

The 54-year-old claims the man, believed to be in his 20s, sexually assaulted her during a treatment at the spa in Chandigargh.

Police said the woman had come to India on a tourist visa.

She told police the accused touched her inappropriately and without her consent while she was having a massage.

Police registered the case under rape charges as per India’s amended rape laws of 2013.

They have now launched a manhunt to find the suspect after he officers say he fled Chandigarh, which is a four hour drive from New Delhi.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Harjeet Kaur, said: “We have booked the accused under rape charges as the woman alleged in her complaint that the accused touched her inappropriately while giving her the massage.”

Police said the woman reported the alleged attack to hotel authorities on the same day, December 20, and lodged a formal complaint after returning from a trip to Shimla a week later.

The woman was taken for a medical examination and her statement was recorded in front of a magistrate.

Police said they are examining CCTV footage and call records for any clues as to the man’s whereabouts.

Kaur added: “We haven’t arrested the accused yet as he has absconded.

“We are investigating the case and very soon the accused will be arrested.”

The shocking incident happened on the same day as another British tourist was raped in the western Indian resort state of Goa.

The 48-year-old British tourist was raped in the same Goan town where just 19 months ago Irish backpacker Danielle McLaughlin was raped and murdered.

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