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 for interrogation. He was subsequently remanded to judicial custody. His bail application was heard in-camera by the magistrate court and dismissed on January 17, prompting him to approach the sessions court.
Mamkootathil has denied the allegations, maintaining that the relationship was consensual. He stated that he was unaware that the complainant was married and that he ended the relationship upon learning of her marital status, Bar and Bench reported.
He has also claimed that the case was intended to damage his public image.
The MLA faces three cases of rape. In the first case, the Kerala High Court, on December 6, temporarily stayed his arrest. The bail plea in that matter is scheduled to be heard later on Wednesday, Bar and Bench reported.
In the second case, a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had granted him anticipatory bail on December 10.
In August, the Congress suspended Mamkootathil from its primary membership following multiple allegations from women of misconduct. Following this, he resigned from his post as the Kerala Youth Congress chief.
He was later expelled from the party but continues to serve as the MLA from Palakkad.
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