Temporary relief for Rahul Mamkootathil: High Court stays Palakkad MLA's arrest in sexual assault case

KOCHI: The High Court stayed the arrest of MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the sexual harassment case. The arrest was stayed for the time being. The petition will be considered on the 15th of this month. Rahul approached the High Court on Friday seeking anticipatory bail.

Although Rahul's case was listed as 32, as soon as the court convened, Rahul's lawyer brought the issue of anticipatory bail to the attention of Justice K Babu. The lawyer requested that he be provided enough time, as there were many things to be explained in relation to the case. The court then decided to hear the case in detail.

The High Court stayed the arrest in the first case registered against Rahul in connection with sexual harassment. Another young woman living outside Kerala had also filed a complaint against Rahul. An FIR has been registered in this regard. Therefore, the police can arrest Rahul if they want in this case. But in this case too, Rahul has filed an anticipatory bail application in the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court. The petition in the second case was filed immediately after the High Court stayed his arrest. It has also been requested that the petition be considered today. It is reported that the court may consider the case today.

Rahul approached the High Court on Friday seeking anticipatory bail after the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court rejected his anticipatory bail application. The petition stated that Rahul was ready to cooperate with the investigation and requested to be released on bail if arrested.

Rahul was close with a woman journalist, but the relationship hit a roadblock after the voice clips between them surfaced on social media.

According to Rahul’s lawyer:

The ongoing police investigation is politically motivated. Rahul has not received a copy of the FIR or the statement of the complaint filed with the Chief Minister. It is the Supreme Court order that a preliminary investigation should be conducted to find out the truth in late complaints.