Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil
The Principal Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram has posted the anticipatory bail plea filed by Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for hearing on Wednesday (December 3, 2025).
Mr. Mamkootathil, who is facing charges of rape and coerced termination of pregnancy, has reportedly submitted digital evidence in court, via his counsel, to bolster the argument that he was the victim of a political conspiracy and that the relationship with the complainant, a woman acquaintance of the MLA, was consensual.
Meanwhile, the police have reportedly invoked provisions of the Indian Evidence Act and obtained a 65B certification to forestall any challenge to the admissibility of electronic records, including audio clips, video footage, and text messages, in the case. The move follows investigators taking custody of the complainant’s mobile phone and other digital devices as evidence. The police are likely to seek court permission to subject the devices to cyberforensic analysis to determine their evidentiary value.
Investigators believe the examination will demonstrate that the electronic records, including allegedly incriminating audio recordings and text messages, created with the devices were not tampered with and are admissible as evidence.
Officials said investigators were processing evidence available on record to lay the legal ground for recording Mr. Mamkootathil’s statement. The police are yet to issue any summons for questioning to Mr. Mamkootathil.
Drugs for miscarriage
The police are also investigating Mr. Mamkootathil on charges of obtaining medicines causing miscarriage without a prescription, employing an acquaintance to deliver the pills to the victim, and coercing her to take the drug, while he allegedly watched on a video call to ensure her compliance. The police have named Mr. Mamkootathil’s acquaintance, Joby Joseph, a businessperson in Pathanamthitta, as the second accused in the case. The police are reportedly yet to issue any summons to Mr. Joseph.
MLA’s contention
The potential charges against both include violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, which protects the reproductive rights of women, including those outside the ambit of conventional marriage.
In his bail application, Mr. Mamkootathil has denied the charge, alleging that the woman with whom he had a relationship was married and had consumed the abortion pills on her own volition.
Meanwhile, Mr. Mamkootathil has remained unavailable on the phone since the woman met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office in the government Secretariat on Thursday evening and lodged her complaint.
Lookout notice
His defence lawyers have denied reports that the MLA is absconding, noting that any attempt to flee could potentially jeopardise Mr. Mamkootathil’s chances for anticipatory bail.
Nevertheless, the police have moved the Bureau of Immigration, the Central government agency that controls entry and exit points in the country, including air, sea and land ports, to issue a lookout notice for Mr. Mamkootathil.
Published – November 29, 2025 05:06 pm IST
