In a significant legal development, the Kerala High Court on Saturday provided interim protection from arrest to former Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil, who is facing serious criminal charges. This order comes just two days after his own political party expelled him from its primary membership.
Legal Reprieve Amidst Political Storm
The High Court bench, led by Justice K Babu, issued the directive while considering the anticipatory bail plea filed by the embattled MLA. The court explicitly stated that the petitioner shall not be arrested during the pendency of the matter, which has been scheduled for further hearing on December 15.
This judicial intervention offers a temporary breather for Mamkootathil, who has been absconding for approximately ten days. The legal troubles for the Palakkad MLA intensified when a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram rejected his pre-arrest bail petition on Thursday, December 5, 2024. The Congress party acted swiftly following that court decision, dismissing him from the party within minutes.
Charges and Political Repercussions
Mamkootathil faces grave allegations across two separate cases. The first case, registered at Nemom police station in Thiruvananthapuram, includes charges of rape, forcing a woman to undergo abortion without consent, criminal intimidation, and recording nudity using electronic devices. A second rape case, allegedly occurring in 2023, was filed against him just this Tuesday.
The Congress party's decision to expel its former Youth Congress state president came after weeks of mounting criticism for its perceived inaction. Party insiders suggest the timing was crucial, with local body elections just a week away and the Assembly elections scheduled five months later. The leadership feared the scandal would adversely affect the prospects of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF), which is attempting a political comeback.
A Rising Star's Fall from Grace
Rahul Mamkootathil's political trajectory had been meteoric until recently. A native of Pathanamthitta district, he rose to become the state president of the Youth Congress in 2023 and was considered one of the party's prominent young faces, frequently representing the Congress in television debates. He became the MLA from Palakkad in a November 2023 byelection, necessitated after the sitting legislator, Shafi Parambil, won the Vadakara Lok Sabha seat in 2024.
Within the party, Mamkootathil was believed to enjoy the support of senior leaders including Opposition Leader V D Satheesan and MP Shafi Parambil. This backing reportedly helped him secure the party ticket for the byelection despite local opposition. However, his tenure has been marred by controversy, including past allegations of rigging the voters' list during organisational elections.
The scandal has also triggered internal accusations. M A Shahanas, a leader of the Congress's cultural wing, Samskara Sahithi, came forward on Wednesday alleging that Mamkootathil had sent her inappropriate messages. She further claimed she had warned Shafi Parambil about his behavior previously, but her concerns were ignored.
As the legal process unfolds, all eyes will be on the Kerala High Court's hearing on December 15. The case presents a critical test for the political and judicial systems in Kerala, balancing serious criminal allegations against an elected representative with the principles of legal procedure and presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
