Kerala court grants police 3-day custody of MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in third rape case against him

A Kerala court on Tuesday granted the police custody of expelled Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil until the evening of January 15 in connection with a third rape case filed against him recently [Rahul BR @Rahul Mamkootathil v State of Kerala]..Thiruvalla Judicial First Class Magistrate Court Judge Arundhanthi Dileep has granted the police custody of Mamkootathil from 12.45 PM on January 13 (today) till January 15, 5 PM.The judge added that the court will consider Mamkootathil's plea for bail on January 16, after his return from police custody. .Mamkootathil was arrested by the police on Sunday, January 11, from a hotel in Palakkad in connection with a rape case registered on a Thiruvalla-based woman's complaint that he sexually assaulted her in 2024. The MLA has denied the allegations, maintaining that his relationship with the complainant was consensual and that he was unaware that the woman was married.He further added that he immediately terminated his relationship with the complainant after he came to know about her marital status. He has argued that the entire case was intended to tarnish his public image..Following his weekend arrest, he was produced before the trial court for remand, where the police sought his custody for interrogation. According to reports, the prosecution argued that custodial interrogation was necessary to recover digital evidence, verify travel records and medical documents in connection with the rape allegations.After hearing preliminary submissions, the magistrate had directed Mamkootathil's appearance before the court, stating that orders on custody would be passed thereafter..After Mamkootathil was produced before the court, the judge asked his counsel why the accused MLA had refused to sign the arrest documents after he was informed of the grounds for his arrest."What is your argument with regard to signing of the arrest documents, you have not signed the arrest memo, the inspection memo, none of the documents ... Why you have not signed these documents?" the court asked, before eventually granting the police custody over him, albeit until 5 PM on January 15..With the latest case, Mamkootathil now faces three sexual assault cases. In one rape case, a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had earlier allowed his plea for anticipatory bail. Later, the Kerala High Court stayed his arrest in a second rape case until January 21..The Congress party had initially suspended his membership in August last year after such allegations of sexual misconduct arose. Mamkootathil also resigned from his position as Youth Congress Chief. Later, he was expelled from the Congress Party.However, he continues to be MLA representing the Palakkad constituency..Senior counsel Sasthamangalam Ajithkumar along with advocate Sekhar G Thampi appeared for Mamkootathil..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.