Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rahul Mamkootathil moved the Kerala High Court on Friday seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case registered against him by the Nemom Police [Rahul BR v State of Kerala]
The Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court had dismissed his first anticipatory bail application yesterday.
The Congress party suspended Mamkootathil's membership in August this year after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him by several women. Mamkootathil also resigned from his position as Youth Congress Chief. However, he continues to be an MLA, representing Palakkad constituency.
The present plea for anticipatory bail relates to a rape case registered based on a written complaint submitted directly by a woman and her family to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on November 27, accusing the MLA of rape, pregnancy through sexual assault and forced abortion.
The complainant also alleged that Mamkootathil threatened her by video recording their intimate moments.
Mamkootathil was booked under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 64 for rape, Section 89 for forced miscarriage, Section 316 for criminal breach of trust, Section 351 for criminal intimidation, Section 329 for trespass and Section 116 for causing grievous hurt. He was also booked under Section 66E of the Information Technology Act for violation of privacy.
In his petition seeking anticipatory bail, Mamkootathil has admitted to having a physical relationship with the complainant but has contended that it was entirely consensual.
According to the plea, the allegations against him are false, politically motivated and intended to tarnish his public standing.
He has assured the High Court of his co-operation with the investigation and has asserted that his custodial interrogation would not be necessary.
Mamkootathil has allegedly been evading the police ever since the registration of the case.
Mamkootathil is being represented by advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Anilkumar CR, Sarath KP, KS Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas, Azad Sunil, TP Aravind and Maheshwar P.