With the grant of anticipatory bail, Rahul—who had been absconding for several days—can now return to Kerala without the immediate threat of arrest.
Published Dec 10, 2025 | 3:27 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 10, 2025 | 4:15 PM
Rahul Mamkootathil. (Facebook)
Synopsis: Principal District and Sessions Judge S. Nazira allowed the anticipatory bail plea with strict conditions, including that the MLA must cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer every Monday to record his presence.
Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has been granted anticipatory bail by the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court, on Wednesday, 10 December, in the second case registered against him on allegations of sexual harassment, based on a complaint filed by a 23-year-old woman residing in Bengaluru.
Principal District and Sessions Judge S. Nazira allowed the anticipatory bail plea with strict conditions, including that the MLA must cooperate with the investigation and appear before the investigating officer every Monday to record his presence.
The court also directed that Rahul should not attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses in the case.
The arguments on the bail plea were heard in camera. With the grant of anticipatory bail, Rahul—who had been absconding for several days—can now return to Kerala without the immediate threat of arrest.
Earlier, the Kerala High Court had stayed his arrest in the first rape case registered against him, effectively granting him protection from arrest in both cases for now.
According to the complaint, the survivor alleged that Rahul raped her after promising marriage.
She also stated that she delayed approaching the police as she had been threatened by the MLA, who allegedly came to her residence and spoke about marriage to silence her.
The case was registered after the woman submitted to the police a copy of an e-mail she had earlier sent to the KPCC leadership, detailing allegations of sexual harassment.
Following the registration of the case, a special investigation team led by IPS officer G. Poonguzhaly recorded the woman’s statement.
In her statement, she reportedly said that Rahul had forcibly raped her after making false promises of marriage.
Despite intensive searches in Kerala and Karnataka, the police had so far been unable to trace Rahul’s whereabouts.
Earlier, four persons were arrested for allegedly helping the MLA go into hiding, but the investigation team said they had not received clear information on his location.
The Sessions Court, while granting anticipatory bail in the second case, made it clear that Rahul must fully cooperate with the probe and strictly comply with the conditions imposed by the court.
Meanwhile, as seven districts in Kerala head to the second phase of local body elections on Thursday, 11 December all eyes are firmly on Palakkad, where speculation is rife over whether Rahul Mamkootathil will make a public appearance to cast his vote after weeks of staying away from his constituency.
Rahul is expected to vote at Booth No. 2 of St Sebastian’s School, Kunnathurmedu South, in Palakkad Municipality — the ward in which the flat he resides is located.
The ward is a Congress stronghold, and the upcoming polling assumes added significance as it will be Rahul’s first local body election after becoming an MLA.
The buzz around his possible arrival gained momentum after the legislator was granted anticipatory bail with conditions. Following the development, it is believed that Rahul may choose the polling day to mark his return to Palakkad.
Rahul had remained politically active during the declaration of the local body elections, but went out of public view after the Chief Minister received a complaint related to the alleged rape case.
Since then, the MLA has largely stayed away from the constituency, triggering intense political debate and speculation about his future course.
With Palakkad emerging as one of the most closely watched districts in the second phase, Rahul’s potential appearance at the polling booth has piqued the interest.
(Edited by Sumavarsha with inputs from Dileep V Kumar)
