Kerala Police moves to cancel bail of Mamkootathil in second rape case
text_fields
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Police on Monday approached a Thiruvananthapuram court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in connection with his second rape case. Authorities alleged that he violated key bail conditions by attempting to contact the survivor.
The petition was filed before the court of the Judicial Magistrate First Class after investigators discovered that Mamkootathil had tried to reach the 23-year-old complainant, a Bengaluru native, via phone on February 17.
The court had earlier granted him anticipatory bail on December 10, imposing strict conditions, including a prohibition on contacting the survivor directly or indirectly. The police contend that the alleged phone call constitutes a clear breach of this condition.
Following the incident, the survivor lodged a complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), confirming that Mamkootathil attempted to call her on February 17, though she did not answer. Police submitted the survivor’s complaint along with supporting digital evidence to substantiate the alleged violation.
Investigators argued that the breach was serious enough to warrant cancellation of bail. After reviewing the police petition, the court directed Mamkootathil to appear in person and provide an explanation. He has been instructed to appear before the court within this month.
The second rape case against the MLA was registered based on the 23-year-old woman’s complaint. While the anticipatory bail had shielded him from arrest, it was contingent upon adherence to conditions, including non-interference with the survivor.
The police move marks a significant development in the case, as cancellation of anticipatory bail could expose Mamkootathil to custodial proceedings. The court is expected to determine whether the alleged phone contact constitutes a willful violation of bail conditions before issuing its final decision.
With IANS inputs