In a dramatic late-night operation, Palakkad legislator Rahul Mamkootathil was taken into custody on Saturday in connection with a third alleged rape case. The arrest followed the direct and urgent intervention of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who acted after receiving a distressing voice message from the complainant.
Chief Minister's Urgent Intervention Triggers Arrest
The chain of events was set in motion on January 8 when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan received an emotional voice note from the woman who has accused the MLA. In the message, she reportedly expressed deep fear for her family's safety and serious apprehension that any delay in arresting the accused could pose a significant threat. This prompted the CM to issue immediate instructions to the state's Director General of Police (DGP), overriding earlier police plans.
Initially, the police had intended to wait for the complainant to return from abroad to record her official statement under Section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). However, this plan was scrapped due to mounting concerns that postponing the arrest could provide the accused with a window to escape or go underground.
Secret Midnight Operation to Ensure Arrest
Acting on the chief minister's directive, the state police chief made the final decision to proceed with the arrest around 8 PM on Saturday. The operation was carried out with extreme confidentiality around midnight to prevent any information leak that could have sabotaged the process.
The arrest was executed under the direct supervision of AIG Poonkuzhali, involving only a small, trusted team of officers. To maintain utmost secrecy, even members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that is probing the series of cases against the MLA were kept in the dark. A proposal to seek help from local police in Pathanamthitta and Palakkad was also abandoned.
Police sources revealed that the accused MLA was completely unaware of the impending arrest until officers reached his hotel room. This covert strategy was specifically designed to prevent him from attempting to disappear.
Recording Evidence and Next Steps
As part of the urgent legal process, AIG Poonkuzhali recorded a preliminary statement from the complainant through a video conferencing session. Subsequently, the victim submitted a detailed statement via email directly to the state police chief.
The complainant is expected to return to Kerala in the coming days to appear before the SIT and provide a comprehensive statement in person. Police officials stated they were determined to ensure the arrest was completed before any move for bail could be initiated by the accused's legal team.
This arrest marks a significant development in the ongoing legal troubles facing the Palakkad MLA, highlighting the high-level political and administrative attention the case has now garnered.
