Kochi: Today, December 15, is a crucial day for Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, as the Kerala High Court will consider his anticipatory bail plea in a rape case. In its December 6 order, a division bench of Justice K Babu restrained the police from arresting the expelled Congress leader during the pendency of his plea and posted the matter for hearing on December 15. If the court rejects his bail plea in the case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch can arrest him today.

The High Court’s decision will be crucial for Rahul, who was expelled from the party after the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the first rape case registered by the Nemom police.

The SIT, led by Assistant Inspector General G Poonkuzhali, is probing the two rape cases against the MLA.

Meanwhile, it is reported that Rahul will not appear before the probe team for interrogation on Monday. The Sessions Court had directed him to appear before the probe team every Monday while granting him conditional anticipatory bail in the case registered on a complaint by a 23-year-old woman.

At the same time, Rahul has argued that he has not received any notice from the SIT so far. According to him, he will appear for interrogation once he receives a notice from the probe team. However, sources hinted that the SIT would summon him for interrogation only after the High Court’s decision on his pre-arrest bail plea.

Rahul Mamkootathil had been absconding since November 28 after the police booked him in the first rape case. After obtaining anticipatory bail in the second rape case, he turned up to cast his vote in the local body polls at Kunnathurmedu ward in Palakkad on December 11.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government has moved a petition in the High Court seeking to set aside the Sessions Court order that granted anticipatory bail to the MLA in the second rape case.