Hours After Detention, Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Arrested in Third Rape Case

Rahul Mamkootathil, the expelled congress MLA from Palakkad, Kerala, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday in connection with a third rape case, further escalating the legal and political crisis surrounding him. Police detained him from a hotel shortly after midnight and subjected him to questioning by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

According to police officials, Mamkootathil was taken into custody at around 1 am from Palakkad and later shifted to a police camp in Pathanamthitta district. A six-member SIT team, led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, conducted an initial interrogation. Following this, his formal arrest was recorded. He is expected to be produced before a court later on Sunday.

The latest case was registered based on a complaint filed by a woman originally from Pathanamthitta district who is currently residing in Canada. Her statement was recorded through video conferencing. Police sources said the complainant, a married woman, alleged that Mamkootathil sexually assaulted her after promising marriage, later refused responsibility when she became pregnant, and pressured her to undergo an abortion.

The complainant also accused the MLA of repeatedly taking money from her. Based on her testimony and preliminary evidence, the police registered the third case, which will also be investigated by the same Special Investigation Team currently probing two earlier complaints against him.

G Poonguzali, the head of the SIT, arrived at the police camp early on Sunday morning and directly supervised the questioning process, officials said.

Mamkootathil’s arrest comes days after the Congress party expelled him from its primary membership following internal complaints and mounting criminal allegations. The decision was taken on the directions of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Sunny Joseph MLA, amid growing pressure over accusations involving the former Youth Congress state president.

His political isolation had already intensified after a Kerala court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in the first rape case. That case was registered following a complaint submitted to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who forwarded it to the State Police Chief for appropriate action.

In the first case, Mamkootathil was charged with rape and coercion to terminate a pregnancy. Investigators also examined an alleged audio recording in which he was purportedly heard discussing his desire for a child before pressuring the complainant to undergo an abortion.

The second case, registered by the Crime Branch, involved a 23-year-old woman who accused Mamkootathil of sexually assaulting her at a private residence after repeatedly messaging her with promises of marriage. She described him as a “sexual predator” who exploited his political position and influence. He was later granted anticipatory bail in that case by a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram.

Scenes of celebration were reported in Palakkad after the court rejected Mamkootathil’s anticipatory bail plea in the first case. Activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the CPI(M), distributed sweets and burst firecrackers.

The controversy surrounding Mamkootathil had intensified earlier following allegations by Malayalam actress Rini Ann George, who accused a “young leader” of misconduct. This led to protests by the BJP and DYFI and preceded his resignation as Youth Congress state president. Subsequently, several women and a transgender person came forward with similar allegations.

Despite receiving temporary protection from arrest from the Kerala High Court in the first case, Mamkootathil was detained on Sunday after being placed under police surveillance. Sources said police reached the hotel where he was staying at around 12:45 am and took him into custody shortly thereafter.

Reacting to the developments, Palakkad District Congress Committee president A Thankappan stated that Mamkootathil was no longer associated with the party and that it was his personal decision whether to resign as an MLA. Meanwhile, the BJP accused the Congress of shielding him, with senior leader P K Krishnadas alleging that the party had failed to demand his resignation despite the seriousness of the charges.

Kerala General Education Minister V Sivankutty said there were “dozens of complaints” against the MLA and asserted that no individual accused of wrongdoing would be protected. He cited several high-profile arrests made during the Pinarayi Vijayan government to underline what he described as the administration’s impartial approach to law enforcement.

Mamkootathil was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly from Palakkad in a by-election held in November, following Shafi Parambil’s election to the Lok Sabha from Vadakara. His rapid political rise, however, has now been overshadowed by multiple criminal investigations and disciplinary action by his party.