In a significant late-night development, expelled Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil was taken into police custody in connection with a sexual assault case registered in Palakkad. The arrest occurred around midnight on Saturday, according to police sources cited by PTI.
The Arrest and Custody Details
Rahul Mamkootathil was apprehended from a hotel in Palakkad where he was staying. Following his detention, he was transferred to a police camp in Pathanamthitta on Sunday morning. Officials indicated that his formal arrest is expected to be recorded at a later time.
This case marks the third sexual assault complaint filed against the Palakkad MLA. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), already probing two prior cases of a similar nature against him, has now been tasked with investigating this latest allegation as well.
Legal Proceedings and Previous Allegations
The legal troubles for Mamkootathil have been mounting. The Kerala High Court had earlier provided him interim protection from arrest in the first case, which involves serious allegations of rape and forcing a woman to undergo an abortion. Justice A Badharudeen extended this interim relief until January 21, the next scheduled hearing date.
In a separate, second case, a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram had granted him anticipatory bail. The latest custody adds a new layer to this complex legal web.
Nature of the Accusations
The allegations against the former Congress leader are severe and multifaceted. Beyond the formal cases, a trans woman reportedly came forward claiming Mamkootathil sent her a message stating he "wanted to rape" her. She alleged he suggested they could go to Bengaluru or Hyderabad, as reported by Onmanorama.
These claims surfaced after actress Rini Ann George and writer Honey Bhaskaran publicly accused Rahul of inappropriate behaviour. George, without initially naming Mamkootathil, told media in Kochi that a prominent youth leader from a major Kerala political party had sent her inappropriate text messages for three years. She stated that when she threatened to expose him, he dismissively responded, "you go tell anyone...who cares?"
Political Fallout and Timeline
The controversy has had immediate political repercussions. Following the initial wave of allegations, the Congress party expelled Rahul Mamkootathil on December 4 last year.
His recent public appearance was on December 11, 2025, when he surfaced in Palakkad to cast his vote in the local body elections. This was after he returned from hiding, which he entered following the registration of the first case. He had emerged after the High Court granted him interim relief on December 6, 2025.
The situation remains fluid as the SIT continues its investigation into all three cases, with the political and legal future of the expelled MLA hanging in the balance.
