Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 28: In a major setback for the Congress ahead of the local body elections, police have registered a case under non-bailable sections against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, following a woman’s complaint accusing him of sexual abuse under the pretext of marriage and forcing her to terminate a pregnancy.
The complaint, submitted directly to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office, triggered swift action. The case was initially registered at Valiyamala police station and later transferred to Nemom police station. A lookout notice has now been issued to prevent the legislator from fleeing the country.
According to the FIR, the woman alleged that Rahul sexually abused her on multiple occasions in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad after assuring her of marriage. The assaults were allegedly secretly recorded, and when she became pregnant, the MLA allegedly pressured her to undergo termination. When she resisted, she was reportedly blackmailed using the videos.
The woman told investigators she was coerced into consuming abortion pills without medical supervision, which led to severe bleeding. Despite her condition, Rahul allegedly continued to threaten her, insisting that the pregnancy would damage his political career. She also submitted audio clips, videos and text messages as digital evidence.
The complaint was forwarded by the CM’s Office to ADGP (Law and Order) H Venkatesh for immediate action. The probe, currently being headed by Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP S Sudarshan, may soon be handed over to the Crime Branch or a special team led by a woman IPS officer.
Rahul, in a Facebook post soon after the complaint surfaced, denied the allegations and said he was willing to face legal scrutiny. “I will prove my innocence before the judiciary and the people,” he wrote.
Once a rising star in the Congress, Rahul’s political fortunes had started dipping after earlier allegations of misconduct surfaced. After an actress publicly accused him of misbehaviour, more sexual harassment claims followed, forcing him to step down as Youth Congress state president. The party later suspended him.
Despite this, Rahul had recently resurfaced in political circles, actively campaigning for Congress candidates in Palakkad ahead of the local body polls, even though he remained excluded from major decision-making meetings.