Rahul Mamkootathil gets anticipatory bail in second rape case

Expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has been granted anticipatory bail in a rape case registered against him based on a complaint first received by KPCC president Sunny Joseph via email on December 2. The order was passed by the Thiruvananthapuram District Principal Sessions Court. The complainant in the case is a 23-year-old woman.

The complainant alleged that Rahul assaulted and emotionally abused her under the false promise of marriage. In her email to the KPCC president, she wrote: “Seeing how another survivor’s privacy was violated and her future deliberately damaged has intensified my fear. This is one of the reasons I am unable to come forward publicly at this time.” She added that she felt morally compelled to speak up after hearing the KPCC president publicly state that no complaints had been received against Rahul.

Following receipt of the letter, the Congress expelled the MLA, and the KPCC leadership forwarded the complaint to the Director General of Police (DGP).

The anticipatory bail was granted to the MLA under conditions such as that Rahul must not influence witnesses and must cooperate with the investigation, will appear before the investigating officers every Monday and that he must not destroy evidence. The court will hear detailed arguments in the case on December 15.

The prosecution submitted police reports to the court, including the woman’s statement alleging brutal rape, and strongly opposed the grant of bail. Rahul maintained that the complaint against him is false. The investigation team was prepared to take him into custody immediately if the bail plea was rejected.

The High Court had stayed his arrest in an earlier case registered against him. Rahul has been absconding for the past two weeks.