The Kerala Police Crime Branch has formed a fresh investigation team to track down legislator Rahul Mamkootathil, who has been absconding for eleven days while facing serious rape allegations. This move comes amid internal suspicions that information from the earlier probe unit may have been leaked, compromising the search operation.
A State-Hopping Escape Plan
According to police sources, the MLA is believed to be constantly moving between the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with intelligence suggesting his current location could be in Bengaluru. His flight began shortly after the complainant met with the Chief Minister last week to submit her petition. Mamkootathil reportedly left Palakkad within hours of that meeting.
In a deliberate attempt to avoid detection, the legislator avoided routes with CCTV surveillance. He initially travelled in a red Volkswagen Polo car, which belongs to an actor friend, to reach Pollachi. From there, he executed a series of vehicle changes, moving to Coimbatore and then towards the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border.
Narrow Misses and Alleged Accomplices
Investigators revealed that Mamkootathil briefly stayed at a resort in Bagalur, Tamil Nadu, but fled just as officers were closing in on his location. The search teams have reportedly been within striking distance on multiple occasions, only for him to slip away at the last moment.
His evasion tactics include frequently changing mobile phones and vehicles, and staying only for short durations at each hideout. A woman advocate, who is alleged to have connections to the real estate mafia in Karnataka, is suspected of assisting him and alerting him to police movements, officers added.
Legal Proceedings and Investigation Status
On the legal front, the High Court has stayed Mamkootathil's arrest in only one of the cases against him. His anticipatory bail plea in a second matter is scheduled for a hearing in the Thiruvananthapuram district court on Monday, after his request for interim protection was previously rejected.
The investigation team is also preparing to record the survivor's statement without further delay. After noticing his mobile phones briefly become active following recent bail proceedings, officers now suspect he has no intention of surrendering voluntarily. Two staff members from his office, including his driver and personal assistant, were questioned but could not provide significant leads to his whereabouts.
