Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC president Sunny Joseph said that the Congress had already taken stern action against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil when sexual assault allegations were raised against him, and resigning as MLA was a personal decision.

Addressing the media on Wednesday, he asserted that the party trusts the judiciary and that the court should decide on the case involving the suspended legislator. Several party leaders have already distanced themselves from Rahul and hinted at expulsion from the party.

Sunny Joseph said that the party has no role in deciding whether one stays on as an MLA.

“I received a new complaint against Rahul on Tuesday. It lacked clarity. The complainant was anonymous, and details such as the place of the alleged sexual assault were not mentioned in the letter. But it was my duty to report it to the police. So, I forwarded the woman’s complaint to the DGP. I also responded to the email regarding the action taken,” said Sunny Joseph.

He also confirmed that the woman who filed a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had forwarded copies of it to him and to Opposition Leader VD Satheesan. “I did not act on the previous complaint as the Chief Minister had already ordered a probe into it,” he said.

“Congress trusts the judiciary. All party leaders welcome the probe and have decided to cooperate with it. Let the court decide on the case,” he added.

Meanwhile, UDF convener Adoor Prakash said he would support the party’s decision on the matter. He noted that the party would take an appropriate decision once the court announces its verdict on Rahul’s anticipatory bail plea.

The leaders declared their stance while the District Sessions Court here was considering the MLA’s anticipatory bail plea in a rape case. However, sources claimed that the High Command expressed disappointment with KPCC over the delay in taking action against Rahul Mamkoottathil. 

On November 27, the Nemom police booked Rahul Mamkoottathil after a woman filed a complaint with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. In the complaint, the woman accused the suspended Congress leader of raping her multiple times, impregnating her, and forcing her to undergo an abortion. Rahul has remained elusive since the case was registered.