In a major blow to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, the Thiruvananthapuram District Sessions Court on Thursday rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case involving allegations of rape and forced termination of pregnancy. Shortly after the court’s decision, the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) announced his expulsion from the party.
The case was filed based on a complaint by a woman acquaintance of the MLA. Judge Naseera S dismissed Mamkootathil’s plea, effectively requiring him to surrender to police or appear before the court. A separate petition seeking to prevent his arrest was also rejected.
The prosecution opposed bail, citing multiple sexual assault complaints against the MLA and warning that he could influence victims and witnesses. Although prosecutors initially faced hurdles in presenting certain digital records, the court examined the digital evidence in closed-door proceedings before delivering its decision.
Mamkootathil has been absconding for eight days since the registration of the rape case. Following the verdict, KPCC president Sunny Joseph confirmed his expulsion, noting the gravity of the allegations and ongoing police investigations. He had already been under suspension.
Meanwhile, another young woman has submitted a separate complaint against Mamkootathil to the KPCC, which has forwarded it to the Director General of Police. Police are expected to advise her to file a formal complaint before deciding on additional charges.
The police believe the MLA may have crossed into Karnataka, prompting an intensified search. Earlier inputs indicated he might have been hiding in Palakkad or Tamil Nadu.
In his bail application, Mamkootathil alleged the case was part of a political conspiracy tied to the Sabarimala gold-plate controversy, claiming a CPM–BJP nexus was behind the accusations. He acknowledged a close relationship with the complainant—initiated after he contacted her online regarding alleged domestic abuse—but denied impregnating her or providing medication for a forced abortion. He further alleged that the complainant’s husband, a Yuva Morcha worker, was responsible for her pregnancy.
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