Thiruvananthapuram: The Crime Branch has begun recording the statements of women who have raised sexual harassment allegations against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil. According to reports, police have so far received six complaints against the suspended Congress member.

On Monday, the Crime Branch questioned advocate Shinto Sebastian, who accused Rahul of forcing a woman to terminate her pregnancy.

A suo motu case was registered against the MLA after several women alleged that he had sent them obscene messages on social media. Amid these allegations, an audio clip purportedly of the MLA, in which he was heard pressuring a woman to undergo an abortion, was leaked online. His alleged text messages to a woman also surfaced on news channels and social media.

It is learnt that the Crime Branch will also record the statements of journalists who posted on social media criticising the former Youth Congress state president. However, none of the women who raised allegations has lodged a formal complaint with the police so far.

The MLA is facing charges including stalking and criminal intimidation.

Meanwhile, Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer told the media that the Crime Branch has not yet submitted a report on the probe against Rahul. He added that currently, there are no restrictions on allowing the Palakkad MLA to attend the session. The Assembly session is scheduled to begin next week.