Palakkad/Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11:
Kerala Police’s Crime Branch early on Sunday arrested Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from a hotel room in Palakkad in connection with a fresh rape and sexual assault complaint filed by a woman currently residing abroad. Police sealed the room, seized mobile phones and took him to Pathanamthitta for questioning by a Special Investigation Team before formalising the arrest. This marks the third complaint against him; in earlier cases he had secured interim protection or anticipatory bail.
The new FIR alleges that in April 2024 Mamkootathil befriended the complainant via social media, promised marriage, and allegedly assaulted her at a hotel in Thiruvalla, leading to pregnancy and subsequent trauma. Police have charged him under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC, and he was remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody at Mavelikkara sub-jail.
