Thiruvananthapuram: In a major relief for Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, the Principal District and Sessions Court in Vanchiyoor here on Wednesday granted him anticipatory bail in the second rape registered against him. The court also ordered him to appear before the probe team and cooperate with the investigation. 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. He was expelled from the Congress on December 4 after the sessions court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in that case. It is rumoured that he is hiding at a farm house in Bengaluru. 

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