The Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court has reserved its verdict on the anticipatory bail plea filed by Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the rape case registered against him by the Crime Branch. The order will be pronounced on December 10.

After hearing arguments on Monday, the court directed that no coercive action, including arrest, should be taken against Rahul until the verdict is issued, granting him temporary relief. The application was first moved on Saturday and was posted for the detailed hearing on Monday.

The Crime Branch registered the case based on a complaint by a 23-year-old woman, who alleged that Rahul raped her after promising to marry her. The complaint was emailed to KPCC president Sunny Joseph, who forwarded it to the State Police Chief. DySP Sajeev K (Crime Branch, Thiruvananthapuram) is leading the investigation.

According to the FIR, in 2023, Rahul contacted the survivor, who resides outside Kerala, via Telegram and insisted on meeting her while she was home on vacation. He allegedly took her to a secluded homestay with his friend Fenni Ninan, who drove the vehicle. There, despite resistance, he allegedly raped her, causing injuries. Rahul has been charged under Section 376 (rape) of the IPC.

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In the petition, Rahul’s counsel Sekhar G Thampi argued that the allegations were politically motivated, citing a two-year delay in filing the complaint and questioning why the survivor approached a political leader instead of the police. The defence also said the email lacked key details such as the date and location of the alleged incident. Rahul stated that he is willing to cooperate with the investigation under any conditions set by the court.

Meanwhile, in a separate rape and forced-abortion case registered by the Nemom police, the Kerala High Court has granted him interim protection from arrest. That matter will be heard on December 15. In the Nemom case, he faces several serious charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including repeated rape, causing miscarriage without consent, and criminal intimidation, along with Section 66(E) of the IT Act for alleged misuse of private images.

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The MLA is currently absconding.

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