Suspended Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil finds himself embroiled in a fresh controversy as a second woman has come forward with serious sexual assault allegations against him. This new complaint emerges at a critical juncture, just a day before a court is scheduled to hear the absconding MLA's plea for pre-arrest bail in an earlier rape case.
New Complaint Adds to Legal Troubles
The latest accusation was formally submitted on Tuesday to both the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) leadership and the state police. According to the complaint, the alleged incident took place in 2023. The complainant, a 23-year-old woman, stated that she initially connected with Mamkootathil through social media. She alleges that while she was in Bengaluru, the MLA took her to a homestay located away from the city under the pretext of discussing marriage.
In her detailed account, the woman claims that Mamkootathil sexually assaulted her despite her clear resistance. "That violent attack shattered me, and I realised that my body bore several cuts and injuries from his brutal attack," the complaint reads. It further states that when she confronted him about his marriage promise afterwards, he coldly dismissed her, saying he had no intention to marry anyone and that his political career would prevent him from giving proper attention to a wife.
Swift Party Action and Political Context
The Congress party acted promptly upon receiving the complaint. KPCC president Sunny Joseph confirmed to the media that he received the complaint via email on Tuesday afternoon and immediately forwarded it to the State Police Chief. "This has been communicated to the woman that Mamkootathil has been suspended from the party," Joseph stated, highlighting the party's attempt to distance itself from the scandal.
This swift action is viewed as politically crucial. The Congress, already reeling from the initial allegations against Mamkootathil, is keen to control the damage ahead of the important Kerala local body elections scheduled for December 9 and 11. The party had initially suspended the Palakkad MLA from primary membership in August this year when multiple allegations of misconduct first surfaced against him.
Ongoing Police Manhunt and Previous Case
Rahul Mamkootathil, the MLA representing Palakkad constituency, was formally booked by police last Friday in a separate and serious case. In that first case, he stands accused of rape and also of forcing a woman to undergo termination of pregnancy. Facing non-bailable charges under stringent sections of the law, Mamkootathil has been absconding since the First Information Report (FIR) was registered. The police have intensified their search to locate him.
The timing of this new complaint is particularly significant as it lands just before the Thiruvananthapuram court is set to consider the legislator's application for anticipatory bail on Wednesday. Legal experts suggest that the emergence of a second serious allegation could substantially influence the court's decision regarding his bail plea.
The sequence of events paints a grim picture for the young politician:
- August 2024: Initial misconduct allegations lead to his suspension from the Congress party.
- Last Friday: Booked in a rape and abortion coercion case, after which he goes into hiding.
- Tuesday: A second woman files a sexual assault complaint for an incident alleged to have occurred in 2023.
- Wednesday: Court hearing for his pre-arrest bail plea in the first case.
As the legal and political storm intensifies, all eyes are now on the Kerala Police to apprehend the accused MLA and on the judiciary to deliver justice. The case has sparked widespread debate on accountability and the conduct of public representatives in the state.
