Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 10 (NationPress) - On Wednesday, a Thiruvananthapuram court granted bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in connection with the second sexual assault allegation filed against him, providing a momentary legal reprieve while investigations persist in two additional cases.

The bail ruling was rendered just two days after the court deliberated on Mamkootathil's plea for anticipatory bail on Monday, instructing the investigation team not to execute any forceful or severe measures against him until the ruling was made.

This relief came amid intensified legal and police scrutiny following the filing of a second rape complaint stemming from a new allegation.

According to the complainant’s account, she was sexually assaulted even after pleading for mercy and desperately clinging to the accused in an attempt to evade the assault.

She also asserted that ongoing threats and intimidation discouraged her from speaking out sooner.

The Superintendent of Police, Poonguzhali, had previously recorded her statement, and both her testimony and digital proof were presented to the court.

The second case emerges from earlier claims that Mamkootathil, after forming a relationship with the survivor under a false promise of marriage, allegedly enticed her to a homestay and sexually assaulted her.

The survivor has provided WhatsApp conversations, voice notes, and further electronic evidence to bolster her allegations.

The court mandated that Mamkootathil must report to the investigating officer every Monday.

Since the last week of November, the MLA has been evading authorities, and now all attention is focused on whether he will emerge from hiding following the bail decision.

Previously, the High Court had suspended his arrest in the first sexual assault case until December 15.

This date is now pivotal, as the High Court is anticipated to issue a final ruling on his bail request related to the first case.

Mamkootathil’s legal team has asserted that the accusations are politically motivated and lack credibility, while the prosecution has vehemently opposed any pre-arrest relief, citing the serious nature of the allegations and the presence of supporting digital evidence.

In the meantime, police are actively working to locate the absconding MLA.

A new special investigation team has been established after suspicions arose regarding potential leaks from the previous search operation.

The initial team, which conducted searches for over a week, has returned from Karnataka, and the new team has commenced its efforts.