Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Arrested in MeToo Case

A months-long, under-the-radar inquiry by the Kerala Police Crime Branch culminated in a pre-dawn arrest of Rahul Mamkootathil, the MLA from Palakkad, at a hotel in his constituency early on Sunday. Officials say he faces charges of rape, coerced medical termination of pregnancy, financial extortion, cheating, confidence trickery, illegal detention, and obtaining sexual consent by deceitfully promising marriage. A Crime Branch team is continuing questions at an armed reserve camp in Pathanamthitta, with plans to present him before a magistrate in Thiruvalla later today.

Officials said a third me-too disclosure, received by the Chief Minister's office last year and processed quietly by the police over the past few months, helped investigators legally circumvent the interim protection from arrest the High Court had granted in two earlier rape and coerced termination of pregnancy cases. Subpoenas were issued for the victim’s mobile records, medical examination reports, and DNA test results, and statements were recorded from people privy to the alleged relationship before a First Information Report was registered, laying the groundwork for the arrest.

The offences are alleged to have occurred over several months, beginning in April 2024. The woman accused Mamkootathil of coercion when she resisted his demands to abort the pregnancy. Reports indicate the accused allegedly befriended her on social media and obtained consent by promising marriage, a claim investigators say preceded a deterioration of the relationship and led to the current charges.

As the investigation moves toward the courtroom, authorities aim to ensure due process while addressing public concern over accountability in politics. The case remains a focal point in discussions about safeguarding victims and upholding integrity in public office.

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