MLA Rahul Mamkootathil gets anticipatory bail in second rape case

Thiruvananthapuram: The Principal District and Sessions Court in Vanchiyoor on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the second rape case registered against him. According to reports, the court granted him conditional bail, directing him to appear before the investigation team every Monday and cooperate with the probe. Sources close to him said he is likely to return to Palakkad for the local body elections on Thursday.

He has been absconding for nearly two weeks amid the ongoing probe into two rape cases against him. Although police teams have launched a manhunt for him, including searches in neighbouring states, they have been unable to trace him so far. 

The Crime Branch registered the second FIR against the MLA after KPCC president Sunny Joseph forwarded a 23-year-old woman’s complaint on December 3. He has been booked under Section 65 (rape) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Sources said a team led by AIG G Poonkuzhali recorded the woman’s statement in Bengaluru.

Rahul has been absconding since November 28, after Nemom Police booked him over another woman’s complaint in which she accused the expelled Congress leader of raping and impregnating her. A Special Investigation Team of the Crime Branch is probing the case. 

On December 6, the Kerala High Court granted him interim protection from arrest in the first rape case. The court ordered that the petitioner shall not be arrested till December 15 while posting the case for this date.

Rahul was expelled from the Congress on December 4 after the sessions court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in that case. Following this, he approached the Kerala High Court and secured interim protection from arrest. It is rumoured that he is hiding at a farm house in Bengaluru.