Thiruvananthapuram: Police are preparing to arrest Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil after registering a sexual assault case against him under non-bailable sections that carry punishments ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.

According to the FIR, the MLA assaulted the complainant and engaged in sexual intercourse with her. On March 17, 2025, he allegedly threatened her and recorded her nude video on his mobile phone without her consent, warning that her life would be ruined if she disclosed their relationship. The FIR adds that Mamkootathil, despite knowing the woman was pregnant, raped her again on  April 22 at her flat in Thrikkannapuram and on two days in the last week of May at his flat, Build Tech Summit 10-B in Palakkad.

On May 30, the second accused and Mamkootathil's aide Jobi allegedly picked up the complainant from Kaimanam in a red car, gave her pills for terminating the pregnancy and, acting on Rahul’s instructions, forced her to consume them without her consent, leading to the termination. The FIR states that Rahul continued to threaten her afterwards. It also notes that the accused acted together, encouraging and assisting each other in committing the offences.

Mamkootathil has been booked under Sections 64, 89, 115 and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with provisions of the Information Technology Act, including Section 66C. Section 64 provides a minimum sentence of ten years for rape, extendable to life, and allows arrest without a warrant. Section 89 deals with forced termination of pregnancy without the woman’s consent and carries the same punishment.

Sections 115, relating to voluntarily causing bodily harm, and 351, pertaining to threats and coercion, have also been invoked. Digital evidence, including chat records, led police to add charges under the IT Act. Section 66C, which covers fraudulent use of another person’s digital credentials, carries up to three years’ imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹1 lakh.

The case was initially registered as a zero FIR by the Valiyamala Police before being transferred to the Nemom station. An audio clip in which Rahul is purportedly heard threatening the woman had surfaced earlier. Onmanorama has not independently verified the recording. Meanwhile, Rahul Mamkootathil’s advocate, George Poonthottam, told Onmanorama that the case is politically motivated and that none of the charges will stand.