Search operations are active in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, and police are also checking the role of his friend, who allegedly gave abortion pills to the woman.
Published Nov 28, 2025 | 9:36 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 28, 2025 | 9:36 AM
Palakkad MLA and former Youth Congress president Rahul Mamkootathil
Synopsis: The Nemom Police booked Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil on charges of forced abortion, sexual harassment, and issuing death threats, following a complaint by a woman from Thiruvananthapuram. Police started an intensive search for Mamkoottathil as there are reports that he has left Kerala, and his phone is switched off.
The Nemom Police in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala booked Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil on charges of forced abortion, sexual harassment, and issuing death threats, following a complaint by a woman from Thiruvananthapuram, sources said on Friday, 28 November.
The case originated as a zero FIR at Valiyamala Police Station and was later transferred to Nemom.
The woman approached the chief minister with digital evidence like WhatsApp chats, voice notes, photos, and medical records, prompting him to summon Crime Branch chief H Venkatesh and hand over the complaint.
Thiruvananthapuram Rural SP KS Sudarshan soon recorded her detailed statement, and non-bailable sections are expected to be added. Although suspended from the Congress, he had been actively involved in the UDF’s local body campaign, and the party is now bracing for political fallout.
The woman’s statement has also been recorded. She told police that Mamkoottathil forced her to take abortion pills and threatened her over a video call. She later faced serious health problems and went to a government hospital doctor, whom the police have already identified.
She had earlier avoided filing a formal complaint, leading to a stalled inquiry, but then decided to approach the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The police are now recording her confidential statement in court, and a Crime Branch team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) C Binu Kumar has taken over the investigation. Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner is supervising the investigation.
Police have started an intensive search for Mamkoottathil as there are reports that he has left Kerala, and his phone is switched off. Search operations are active in Palakkad and Pathanamthitta, and police are also checking the role of his friend, who allegedly gave abortion pills to the woman.
Mamkoottathil met his lawyer in Kochi last night to move his bail application. Mamkootathil is likely to seek anticipatory bail from the high court on Friday. His MLA office in Palakkad remains closed.
Meanwhile, in a separate case filed in August, accusing Mamkootathil of online harassment and coercion, police could not record statements as none of the alleged victims came forward.
On Thursday, Youth Congress state general secretary Sajana B Sajan approached the Congress high command seeking an organisational probe into the controversies surrounding Mamkoottathil.
In her complaint to Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, she urged a formal inquiry into the allegations of sexual misconduct and other issues highlighted in the media.
Sajana, who had earlier demanded Mamkoottathil’s removal from the party, said ordinary workers should not be defending him and criticised the leadership for dismissing the matter due to the lack of a formal complaint.
She also pointed out that the national Youth Congress had previously asked him to step down as state president.
The development follows the circulation of new audio clips and WhatsApp chats alleging further misconduct, adding to the scrutiny already surrounding him.
Mamkootathil was suspended from the party after he stepped down from the post of state president of the Youth Congress in September after being embroiled in multiple misconduct allegations against women.
Revelations by actress Rini Ann George, writer Honey Bhaskaran and trans woman Avantika, as well as other complaints, had reached the central leadership of the Congress.
After resigning from the post, Mamkootathil had said he resigned since it was not the Congress party’s job to defend him.
“No one asked me to quit. I chose to step down because I believe it is not the party’s job to defend me. The Congress leadership and workers have bigger responsibilities ahead — from the upcoming local body and Assembly polls to taking on the CPI(M) government at the state level. Proving my innocence is my duty, not the party’s,” Mamkootathil had told reporters.
Earlier, denying the allegations levelled against him, Mamkootathil maintained that he has done no wrong. “If the complainants approach the court, I will deal with it legally and establish the truth,” he added.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil with inputs from Sreelakshmi Soman.)
