No interim protection for Mamkootathil in second rape case

The anticipatory bail application moved by Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the Additional District and Sessions Court here on Saturday in the alleged case of rape of a 23-year-old woman was posted to Monday by the court for detailed hearing.

While seeking the prosecution’s stand on the petition, the court refused to grant him interim protection from arrest until the bail plea was heard on Monday. 

Counsel who appeared for Mr. Mamkootathil argued that the FIR in the second case was invalid and politically motivated. Therefore, the arrest should be stayed until the verdict was announced on the petition.

Counsel also argued that the case was registered solely based on an email, and there were no details such as the name of the complainant or the place and time of happening of the alleged crime in the complaint.

However, the court observed that it was a complaint in 2023 and that it became political because the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president received the complaint. The prosecution also argued that the KPCC president might have forwarded the complaint to the police, as he felt merit in the complaint. 

The court later rejected his request for interim stay on his arrest until the hearing in the case is completed. The petition was moved within an hour after the High Court gave him interim protection from arrest in the first rape case registered against him.

The anticipatory bail plea was moved in the second case after the police appointed a special team to probe the case.

A probe team led by AIG G. Poonkuzhali has been appointed to investigate the complaint of the woman, a resident of Bengaluru. The police have also contacted the survivor, who agreed to cooperate with the probe.