A vigilance court in Kerala on Wednesday heard arguments on the anticipatory bail plea moved by suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who has vehemently claimed that the sexual assault case registered against him was "fabricated and politically motivated".
The Thiruvananthapuram District and Principal Sessions Court heard the arguments behind closed doors, opting for in-camera proceedings, and subsequently listed the matter for further consideration on Thursday. Crucially, the court did not grant any interim protection from arrest to Mamkootathil.
The Palakkad MLA has been absconding since the police registered the case last week after the complainant submitted a petition directly to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Subsequently, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted, and a look-out circular has been issued to prevent Mamkootathil from leaving the country.
The MLA faces a case registered under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which includes Section 64(2)(f) (rape by a person in a position of trust or authority), Section 64(2)(h) (rape knowing the woman is pregnant), Section 64(2)(m) (repeated rape on the same woman) and Section 89 (causing miscarriage without consent).
Police have also invoked Section 66(E) of the Information Technology Act for the alleged recording and threat of misuse of private images.
While the SIT was probing this initial case, a fresh complaint of sexual assault was made against him by another woman. The 23-year-old woman, residing outside Kerala, sent her complaint to the party high command and the KPCC. Congress leaders confirmed on Wednesday that the complaint sent to the KPCC has been forwarded to the DGP.
Mamkootathil was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25th. He had earlier resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a "young leader" of misbehaviour, a development that prompted protests by the BJP and the DYFI (the youth wing of the CPI(M)). Thereafter, several women and a transgender person also levelled allegations against him.
Mamkootathil was elected as MLA in November last year in a by-election for the Palakkad seat, following former MLA Shafi Parambil's election to the Lok Sabha from Vatakara.
Also read: Palakkad MLA seeks in-camera hearing for rape case
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