04 December,2025 05:39 PM IST | Thiruvananthapuram | mid-day online correspondent
MLA Rahul Mamkootathil faces charges of sexual assault, rape on the pretext of marriage, and forced abortion. PIC/PTI
The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Friday expelled suspended Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Rahul Mamkootathil after multiple serious allegations were levelled against him and cases were formally registered in connection with them, news agency ANI reported. KPCC President Sunny Joseph, confirming the expulsion, said that the party had taken the step after reviewing the gravity of the charges.
The Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court has rejected Mamkootathil's plea for anticipatory bail in the alleged rape case.
Police have registered a case against the Palakkad MLA based on a complaint filed by a woman who has accused him of sexual assault, rape on the pretext of marriage, and forced abortion, ANI reported.
The first information report (FIR), which was initially lodged at the Nedumangad Valiyamala Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram, was later transferred to the Nemom Police Station in the same district as the alleged incidents fell within its jurisdiction.
The case has been registered under eight non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Section 64 for rape, Section 64(2) for repeated rape on the same woman, Section 64(f) for rape by a person in a position of trust, Section 64(h) for rape on a woman knowing she is pregnant, and Section 64(m) for repeated rape, ANI reported. It also includes Section 89 for causing miscarriage without the woman's consent, Section 316 for criminal breach of trust, and Section 68(e) of the Information Technology Act related to the transmission of offensive digital content. The offences carry punishments ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
The developments follow a written complaint submitted by the survivor to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. After receiving the petition, the chief minister forwarded it to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) H Venkatesh, prompting a senior-level meeting at the police headquarters to chart the next steps. With the FIR now registered, police have initiated procedures to arrest the MLA.
Although allegations had surfaced as early as August, the survivor had not appeared in person until now. The Crime Branch had begun a preliminary probe based on petitions filed by third parties to the State Police Chief and had identified the woman heard in leaked audio recordings. She had earlier been asked to submit a written statement but had declined. Rahul Mamkootathil has so far neither confirmed nor denied whether the voice heard in the audio clips belongs to him.
(With ANI inputs)
