The initial motive of the 30-year-old Tamilian, who was arrested on Thursday for allegedly raping a British national near South Goa's Palolem beach village, was to rob her, Inspector General of Police Jaspal Singh said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the police headquarters, Singh said that the accused Ramachandran, a resident of Thanjavur, was previously arrested in connection with a theft at another beach village in North Goa earlier in December, but had escaped from the police custody.