Rahul Mamkootathil moves high court seeking anticipatory bail in rape case

KOCHI: Rahul Mamkootathil MLA has approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in the rape case. The Thiruvananthapuram District Principal Sessions Court had yesterday rejected his anticipatory bail plea. His plea was dismissed pointing that the case was a serious sexual abuse and that there was a possibility of destroying evidence and influencing witnesses by using his official post. He approached the high court after this.

The plea filed in the high court also noted the same things mentioned in the plea filed in the lower court. The plea said that he is an MLA and that his opponents are trying to undermine him politically. The lawyer will request to consider the plea tomorrow.

A search has been intensified for Rahul, who went absconding nine days ago. There were speculations that he was taken into custody from Sullya in Karnataka yesterday. Reports came that he will be brought to the Hosdurg court in Kasaragod. A police team was also stationed in the court premises. However, he could not be arrested.

The SIT had taken into custody Rahul's personal assistant and driver Jose from his Palakkad office yesterday. They helped and accompanied the MLA to escape. Meanwhile, a case has also been registered against Rahul on the complaint of a 23-year-old woman from Pathanamthitta living in Bengaluru. The case alleges that he sexually assaulted her on the pretext of marriage.