Rise and Fall of Rahul Mamkootathil: Palakkad MLA Expelled Over Rape Allegations

Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s political trajectory took a sharp turn as the Indian National Congress moved to sever ties amid a mounting sexual misconduct scandal. The Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) expelled Mamkootathil from primary membership after a Thiruvananthapuram court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a rape case, signaling a definitive break with the party ahead of local elections.

Earlier this year, a 23-year-old non-resident Kerala woman accused Mamkootathil of raping her after inviting her to discuss prospective marriage at a resort, and alleged coercion in a pregnancy-related matter. The allegations have since multiplied into a broader scrutiny of the Palakkad MLA, who had already been suspended by the party in August amid reports of sexual misconduct. The court’s rejection of the bail plea in December 2025 widened the legal jeopardy facing Mamkootathil, with prosecutors presenting medico-legal records and other material to bolster the case and the defence arguing that the investigation was still in early stages and that he faced politically motivated targeting.

Amid the legal maelstrom, a separate Manhattan of the party’s inner circle unfolded publicly. Shahanas, a Kerala Youth Congress leader, claimed she had warned then Youth Congress president Shafi Parambil about Mamkootathil’s alleged predatory conduct and recounted alleged inappropriate messages from the MLA when she faced hostility after returning from a farmers’ agitation. Her remarks were followed by her expulsion from the official WhatsApp group of KPCC Samskara Sahithi, a cultural and literary outfit linked to the Congress, signaling a hardening stance from party colleagues who sought to shield the organisation from further scandal.

The party’s leadership argued that Mamkootathil’s continuation in Congress had become ethically untenable in light of the serious allegations, and moved to decouple from him as the local body elections approached. Kerala’s anti-rape investigation also saw the Central Bureau of Investigation or local agencies pursuing a second rape case, underscoring the gravity of the charges levelled against him. Mamkootathil has repeatedly denied all allegations, stating that the claims are politically motivated and that any audio or text messages circulating online could have been manufactured or distorted.

The expulsion marks a watershed moment for Kerala politics, illustrating the pressure parties face to respond decisively to sexual misconduct allegations while navigating the legal process and the volatile atmosphere of the state’s local political landscape.

Cover image source: Kerala Youth Congress leader Shahanas feels the heat as she speaks out against Rahul Mamkootathil, Shafi Parambil 🔗

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