Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil granted bail in third rape case

A sessions court in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district on Wednesday granted bail to expelled Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the third rape case registered against him, Bar and Bench reported.

Principal District and Sessions Judge N Harikumar granted bail, allowing Mamkootathil’s appeal against the dismissal of his bail application by a magistrate court on January 17.

The sessions court had reserved its verdict in the matter on Saturday and posted the matter for orders on Wednesday, Live Law reported.

On January 17, the magistrate court held that a prima facie case of rape was made out against Mamkootathil, citing the seriousness of the allegations and similar antecedents, Live Law reported.

“This is also every chance of witnesses being threatened or influenced, evidence being tampered and investigation being hampered,” the magistrate court had held.

The alleged incident took place in 2024 at a hotel in Thiruvalla. The complainant, a non-resident Indian woman, alleged that Mamkootathil befriended her on social media, compelled her to book a hotel room and sexually assaulted her, resulting in pregnancy and a subsequent miscarriage, Live Law reported.

Mamkootathil was arrested on January 11 in Palakkad following a complaint filed on January 8. He has been booked for rape and criminal intimidation, PTI reported.

After his arrest, Mamkootathil was produced before a trial court, which granted the police three days of custody...

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