Thiruvananthapuram: The District Sessions Court here will consider the anticipatory bail petition of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil on December 3. The suspended Congress legislator approached the court on Friday after Nemom police booked him in a rape case based on a woman’s complaint. 

Meanwhile, SFI activists staged a protest against the MLA in the district on Saturday. Activists of the CPM-affiliated students’ outfit were seen distributing posters portraying the MLA as a “wanted criminal” among the public in Palakkad. The posters were also displayed at bus depots across the district.

It is rumoured that Rahul is continuing at his hideout in Palakkad. His personal assistant and driver were spotted at the MLA’s office on Saturday, say reports.

In his plea, the MLA argued that the complaint is politically motivated and fabricated. He denied all allegations, including the charge of forced abortion, and described the complainant as a close friend.

According to the petition, the woman befriended him through Facebook, and their relationship later led to consensual sex. Rahul claimed he supported her after she allegedly faced domestic violence from her husband, and dismissed the accusation that he impregnated her.

The MLA further alleged that the woman had recorded every moment of their relationship — including chats and voice clips — as part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his image. He pointed out that she leaked audio clips during the local body polls, before filing the complaint. He also questioned her decision to approach the Chief Minister instead of the local police.

As per the FIR, the MLA raped the complainant multiple times, including during her pregnancy. It states that on March 17, her videos were recorded at her apartment, and that he allegedly threatened to release them if their relationship became public. The FIR further notes that despite knowing she was pregnant, Rahul allegedly raped her at her apartment on April 22, and again over two days in the last week of May at his apartment in Palakkad.

The case has been registered under Sections 64(2)(f) (rape by a person in a position of trust or authority), 64(2)(h) (rape knowing the woman is pregnant), 64(2)(m) (repeated rape on the same woman), 89 (causing miscarriage without consent), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (joint criminal liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Police have also invoked Section 66(E) of the Information Technology Act for the alleged recording and threat of misuse of private images.

Earlier, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee had suspended him from the party after some women alleged that he misbehaved with them through social media.