Rahul Mamkoottathil likely to arrive in Palakkad today, BJP stages protest

Palakkad: Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil will return to his constituency on Saturday following a self-imposed exile in the wake of a raft of sexual harassment allegations against him. Rahul has avoided all public meetings and stayed at his home in Adoor since allegations surfaced against him.

The Crime Branch is also probing a case after slapping him with charges of stalking and harassment. Though he made a brief appearance in the legislative assembly on the first day of the ongoing session, he returned to the MLA hostel and did not turn up in the following days. Even in his absence, the ruling front has hurled innuendos aimed at Rahul while answering questions from the opposition MLAs. A group of party workers from Palakkad reportedly met him at his residence on Thursday.

BJP workers, including women, intensified protests in Palakkad demanding the suspended Congress leader’s resignation from the Assembly.

“Congress suspended Rahul from its primary membership after finding him a disgrace to the party. Palakkad does not need someone disowned by Congress. We won’t allow him to enter Palakkad,” a BJP leader said.

Protesters clashed with the police outside the MLA’s office, where several workers were detained while attempting to lock its gates. Police have tightened security around the MLA’s office in view of the protests. 

On Monday, Rahul attended the Assembly session but skipped subsequent sittings. He later visited Sabarimala on Thursday. Reports indicate that the MLA will reach Palakkad this evening.

Following his brief appearance in the Assembly after being booked in the sexual harassment case, sources suggest that he plans to become more active in his constituency in the coming days. 

On August 27, the Crime Branch registered a case against the MLA over the alleged sexual harassment of women. He has been booked for offences including stalking and criminal intimidation under Sections 78(2) and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, as well as Section 120(O) of the Kerala Police Act.

The Crime Branch took up the case on the orders of State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar.  

Malayalam actor Rini Ann George’s revelations about a young politician triggered the row, which ended up in Rahul’s resignation from the post of Youth Congress state president. He was later suspended from the party.

The actor had alleged that a young politician had sent her obscene messages. Though she did not name him, speculation soon pointed toward the MLA. Subsequently, writer Honey Bhaskaran accused Rahul of initiating a conversation with her on Instagram and later making derogatory remarks about her to others. Screenshots of alleged chats between Rahul and several women also surfaced online, intensifying the controversy.

Protests against the MLA escalated further after some screenshots and a voice clip of his conversations with women surfaced on news channels and social media. He is also facing allegations of forcing a woman to undergo an abortion.