Fresh evidence was released by a Malayalam television channel on Monday against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who had to step down as Kerala state Youth Congress chief, over allegations of forcing a woman to undergo an abortion.
Audio notes of Rahul Mamkootathil threatening a woman that it would only take him seconds to kill her had surfaced after she refused to abort a pregnancy. The Congress had taken disciplinary action against him after the allegations created a public uproar in August.
The new WhatsApp chats and phone conversation released by a television channel further corners Rahul, who was also accused of misbehaviour by journalist-turned artist Rini Ann Geroge. The screenshot of WhatsApp chat released by News Malayalam 24X7 showed Rahul texting the woman that "I wanna make you pregnant" before saying "Nammude Kunj venam," which translated to "we should have a baby" in Malayalam.
The chat also showed the woman insisting on "pills" and the Congress leader disagreeing. He asks the woman to be "ready" to become "pregnant" in the month of March ("Nee pregnant aakan ready aku").
The latest release comes at a time when Kerala is heading to local self-government elections next month. Despite facing disciplinary action, Rahul Mamkootathil recently became active in his constituency and on social media. It is said that he was strongly backed by a section in the state Congress, which resulted in his return to the public sphere.
New sadistic phone conversation further corners Rahul
Along with the WhatsApp chat screenshot, another phone conversation between the woman and the Palakkad MLA was also released by the television channel. The conversation captured the leader using abusive language against the woman while having an emotional breakdown over an abortion.
When the woman reminds him that the pregnancy was originally his idea, he has no clear answer. The Week could not independently verify the authenticity of the leaked files.
In the audio clip, the woman is heard saying, "I am speaking in a feeble voice because I am unwell. I’m having a lot of health issues. I can’t eat, I am not liking most smells — there are so many problems, and I can’t even share this with anyone."
Rahul immediately retorts, "Stop this drama. We all know what happens in the first month of pregnancy. You are putting on an act for no reason."
The woman counters, "You may have seen many people and think you know what the first month is like, but I only know my case."
He replies, "First, you go to the hospital. The rest can wait."
The conversation continues as the woman protests, "Whose plan was this pregnancy? Was it mine? Who always wanted to have a baby? Then why are you backing out at the last moment like this? Why are you torturing me like this?"
