Acting on the instructions of State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar, the Crime Branch registered an FIR by invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhitha and the Kerala Police Act.
Published Aug 28, 2025 | 12:24 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 28, 2025 | 12:24 PM
Rahul Mamkootathil. (Facebook)
Synopsis: Protests over allegations against Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil have spilled over to the streets in Kerala, with youth wing workers of both CPI(M) and the Congress coming face-to-face, issuing threats and creating tension.
Pressure is mounting on Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil even as the Congress leadership seems to be going soft on his resignation from the state Assembly.
The Crime Branch on Wednesday, 27 August, registered a case against the Congress legislator following a series of allegations that he had harassed women through social media, phone calls, and messages.
The case came just hours after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared that ”all possible legal measures” would be initiated. He described Mamkoottathil’s alleged remark, suggesting it was easy to eliminate a woman who resisted abortion, as ”criminal thinking”.
Acting on the instructions of State Police Chief Ravada Chandrasekhar, the Crime Branch registered an FIR by invoking provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Samhitha (BNS) and the Kerala Police Act.
The charges include Section 78(2) of the BNS, which deals with stalking and covers repeated online or offline contact despite clear disinterest, carrying a punishment of up to three years imprisonment, Section 351 of the BNS, pertaining to criminal intimidation and punishable with up to two years in jail, and Section 120(O) of the Kerala Police Act, which addresses nuisance caused through repeated or undesirable communication, carrying a jail term of up to one year.
As these are cognisable offences, the police are empowered to make arrests and begin investigations without a warrant.
The case will be probed by Crime Branch DSP Binu Kumar, with the initial focus on recording the statements of complainants, followed by testimonies from women who have spoken out about harassment.
While the investigation gathers pace, the political fallout is spilling onto the streets.
The Crime Branch had already registered a suo motu case after disclosures of sexual misconduct surfaced, triggering sharp reactions across party lines.
Protests intensified in the state capital when a Youth Congress march to Cliff House turned violent, leading to a police crackdown and the arrest of activists. The agitation came in retaliation to a DYFI protest targeting Congress MP Shafi Parambil.
The UDF has announced more protests programmes on Thursday, 28 August, following violent demonstrations on Wednesday. Youth Congress state general secretary VP Dulkifil was allegedly dragged out of his car and assaulted by DYFI activists with police backing.
Protesting the incident, Vadakara MLA KK Rema and UDF workers marched to the local police station, leading to a scuffle. Rema later staged a sit-in, which was called off only after the Rural SP assured that action would be taken after reviewing CCTV footage.
The IUMLs district leadership warned that if attempts to obstruct Shafi continue, ruling party ministers and MLAs will not be allowed to move freely in Kozhikode. The League stated that the UDF is prepared to protect Shafi from violent CPI(M) workers and will not remain passive if such attacks are repeated.
With both sides escalating confrontations, political tempers in Kerala are set to rise further. Meanwhile, Mamkoottathil is expected to break his silence and address the media on Thursday.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
