Sacked Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil granted bail in second sexual assault case

Thiruvananthapuram: A Thiruvananthapuram court on Wednesday granted bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the second sexual assault case registered against him, even as probes continue in two other cases.

The order came two days after the court reserved its decision on his anticipatory bail plea and orally directed the investigation team not to take any coercive action against him until the verdict was delivered. The second rape case was registered on the basis of a fresh complaint, triggering intensified legal and police action.

In her statement, the complainant alleged that she was sexually assaulted despite pleading for mercy and trying to physically resist. She claimed she was silenced for a long period through repeated threats and intimidation. Her detailed testimony and digital evidence were recorded by Superintendent of Police Poonguzhali and placed before the court.

The latest FIR follows earlier allegations that Mamkootathil, after building a relationship with the survivor on the promise of marriage, lured her to a homestay and sexually assaulted her. The survivor has submitted WhatsApp chats, voice messages and other electronic records to support her claims.

As part of the bail conditions, the court has directed Mamkootathil to appear before the investigating officer every Monday. The MLA has been absconding since the last week of November, and it remains to be seen whether he will now come out of hiding.

In the first sexual assault case, the High Court has stayed his arrest until December 15, when it is expected to deliver a final order on his bail plea. While Mamkootathil’s counsel has termed the complaints politically motivated and unreliable, the prosecution has opposed any pre-arrest relief, citing the seriousness of the charges and corroborative digital material.

Meanwhile, police efforts to trace the fugitive legislator are continuing. A new special investigation team has been constituted after suspicions that the earlier search operation was compromised by leaks. The first team, which conducted searches for over a week, has returned from Karnataka, and the new unit has taken over the hunt.

(Inputs from IANS)