A 50-year-old United States citizen was arrested for allegedly molesting a 14-year-old boy in a hotel room in Kolkata on Friday. The accused man had checked into the hotel on Thursday afternoon and returned with the boy after a few hours, said the police. The Indian Express reported that Powel got the boy into the hotel claiming he was poor and had dental problems, but security officials noted he appeared tense while leaving with the boy later, which raised suspicions. The security officials then took the child away and interrogated them separately.

A hotel official said, “The child broke down and said that he had met Powel on Facebook. When he reached Kolkata, Powel took him to a shopping mall and bought him some gifts. Later, he took him to his room and tried to molest him. When the boy resisted, Powel forced him. Later, he gave the boy Rs 100 to keep mum.”

The police said, “A case of child molestation has been started against him and the US Embassy in Kolkata has also been apprised of the incident. He will be produced before the court [on Saturday].”