4 months ago
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A magistrate successful Pathanamthitta connected Sunday (January 11, 2026) remanded Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to judicial custody aft the constabulary arrested him aboriginal greeting connected charges of rape and intimidation.
The magistrate sent him to a sub-jail successful Mavelikkara for 14 days. The Crime Branch had produced him earlier the magistrate holding impermanent charge.
The tribunal rejected Mr. Mamkootathil’s defence lawyer’s plea to perceive the MLA’s bail exertion immediately. The defence argued that the accused was a legislator and posed nary formation risk. The defence said Mr. Mamkootathil would cooperate with the probe and contiguous himself, erstwhile required, earlier the investigating officer.
However, the prosecution opposed Mr. Mamkootathil’s arguments. It countered that helium was a habitual offender and an accused successful 2 comparable rape cases. Moreover, helium was besides facing charges of intersexual misconduct against respective women, including cyber stalking and intersexual predation. The prosecution argued that enlarging Mr. Mamkootathil connected bail would person a chilling effect connected victims, including imaginable complainants.
It said the fishy could usage its governmental power and authorization to power witnesses and tamper with evidence. The prosecution besides pointed retired that Mr. Mamkootathil had absconded for respective weeks astatine a agelong and ignored ineligible summons aft the constabulary booked him connected charges of rape successful an earlier lawsuit successful November 2024.
Protests
Meanwhile, DYFI and BJP-Yuva Morcha protests rocked Pathanamthitta and Palakkad. The constabulary grappled with activists arsenic they escorted Mr. Mamkootathil to the General Hospital successful Pathanamthitta for aesculapian examination.
DYFI and Yuva Morch workers attempted to mob Mr Mamkootathil erstwhile constabulary produced the MLA astatine the magistrate’s house.
