Kerala Police Seeks Revocation of Expelled MLA Mamkootathil's Bail in New Rape Allegation
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Thiruvananthapuram, February 23 (NationPress) - On Monday, Kerala Police submitted a request to a Thiruvananthapuram court aiming to revoke the anticipatory bail that was previously granted to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in relation to a second rape allegation. The police claimed that he breached critical bail conditions by attempting to contact the survivor.
The petition was presented before the Judicial Magistrate First Class after investigators determined that Mamkootathil had made an attempt to reach out to the 23-year-old complainant, who hails from Bengaluru, via phone on February 17.
Earlier, the court had issued anticipatory bail to him on December 10, stipulating strict conditions, including a prohibition on any form of communication with the survivor, whether directly or indirectly.
According to police reports, the alleged phone call represents a blatant violation of this stipulation.
The survivor subsequently filed a complaint with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), stating that Mamkootathil had tried to call her on February 17.
In her statement, she confirmed that she did not respond to the call.
The police presented the survivor’s complaint alongside digital evidence to reinforce the claim of violation.
Based on this evidence, investigators argued that the breach is severe enough to warrant the cancellation of the bail.
After reviewing the police's petition, the court has ordered Mamkootathil to appear in person and provide an explanation, instructing him to do so within this month.
The second rape accusation against the MLA originated from the complaint filed by the 23-year-old woman.
While the anticipatory bail provided him protection from arrest, it was contingent upon adhering to clearly defined conditions, including refraining from any interference with the survivor.
This police action signifies a pivotal moment in the case, as revoking the anticipatory bail could lead to custodial actions against the accused.
The court is expected to evaluate whether the alleged phone contact constitutes a deliberate violation of the bail conditions before making a final ruling.