Kerala Congress expels Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, court rejects anticipatory bail in rape case

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph on Thursday said that suspended MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has been expelled from the party after serious allegations were raised against him and the cases registered in connection with them.

The Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court has also rejected Mamkootathil’s request for anticipatory bail in the alleged rape case.

The police have registered a case against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil based on a woman’s complaint alleging sexual assault, rape on the pretext of marriage and forced abortion. The FIR, initially lodged at the Nedumangad Valiyamala police station, was later transferred to the Nemom police station as the alleged incidents occurred within its jurisdiction.

KPCC president Sunny Joseph says that Rahul Mamkootathil, who is currently under suspension, has been removed from the party’s primary membership based on the serious allegations raised against him and the cases registered in connection with them.

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The case has been registered under eight non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Section 64 for rape, Section 64(2) for repeatedly committing rape on the same woman, Section 64(f) for rape by a person in a position of trust, Section 64(h) for rape on a woman knowing she is pregnant, and Section 64(m) for repeated rape on the same woman.

It also includes Section 89 of the BNS for causing miscarriage without a woman’s consent, BNS 316 for criminal breach of trust, and Section 68(e) of the Information Technology Act relating to transmission of offensive digital content. The offences cumulatively carry punishments ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.

The action follows a written complaint submitted by the survivor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. After the Chief Minister forwarded the petition to ADGP H Venkatesh, a senior-level meeting was convened at the police headquarters to determine further steps. With the FIR now registered, the police have begun procedures for the MLA’s arrest.

Although allegations surfaced as early as August, the woman had not appeared in person until now. The Crime Branch had already initiated a preliminary probe based on petitions filed by third parties to the State Police Chief. It had identified the woman heard in the leaked audio recordings.

She was requested to submit a written complaint earlier, but had declined. Meanwhile, Rahul Mamkootathil has neither confirmed nor denied whether the voice heard in the audio clips is his. (ANI)