Daijiworld Media Network- Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28: A fresh controversy has erupted in Kerala politics with the Crime Branch registering a suo motu case against Palakkad Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on charges of stalking and harassing women on social media.
The decision came after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan took a stern stance, describing the allegations as “deeply criminal and unacceptable.” He assured that the government would take all necessary legal steps to address the matter, even in the absence of formal complaints.
The case against Mamkootathil, who recently resigned as Youth Congress state president, has intensified with several women and a transgender person accusing him of sexual misconduct. The matter gained further momentum after audio recordings surfaced, purportedly of the MLA, in which a pregnant woman was allegedly threatened with dire consequences if she refused to undergo an abortion.
Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Vijayan condemned the alleged remarks, terming the issue “a very serious matter society cannot ignore.” He asserted that such behaviour was unacceptable from an elected representative and vowed full protection to complainants.
Initially, the police had sought legal opinion due to the absence of formal complaints. However, following the Chief Minister’s directive, the suo motu case was registered. The FIR invokes multiple provisions, including Sections 78 (stalking) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhita, and Section 120(O) of the Kerala Police Act, which pertains to harassment through electronic communication.
The case has also triggered a sharp political row, with the Chief Minister accusing Opposition Leader VD Satheesan of attempting to shield the MLA. He added that several senior Congress leaders were unhappy with the manner in which the issue was being handled. In response, Satheesan claimed that the Congress had already acted on moral grounds and hit back at the ruling LDF, alleging that ministers facing similar charges continued to remain in the cabinet.
The unfolding developments are expected to cause major tremors in state politics, as the case against Rahul Mamkootathil gathers pace.