The Kerala High Court on Monday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a case concerning the alleged rape of a woman and forcing her to abort a pregnancy.
A bench of Justice K Babu was hearing Mamkootathil's petition, which challenges the Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Court's decision to deny him anticipatory bail. The court posted the matter for further hearing on December 18 and extended its earlier direction, restraining the police from arresting Mamkootathil until the petition is considered again on that date.
Meanwhile, a separate petition filed by the state government also came up for consideration before a High Court bench of Justice Viju Abraham. This petition challenges the Thiruvananthapuram court's order granting pre-arrest bail to Mamkootathil in a different case relating to the alleged sexual assault of a woman on the false promise of marriage.
The court decided to take up this matter after the Christmas vacation.
Mamkootathil, who had gone into hiding after police registered the cases, recently returned following the High Court granting him interim relief. He was publicly seen when he appeared in Palakkad to cast his vote in the local body elections on December 11.
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