The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoothil in the first of three alleged sexual harassment cases filed against him, effectively granting him protection from arrest in all the ongoing cases.
Providing relief, the High Court remarked that the allegations at this stage do not prima facie prove a case of rape. However, the court imposed strict conditions on the expelled Congress MLA.
Under the bail conditions, Mamkoothil is banned from leaving Kerala and has been directed to surrender his passport and mobile phone to investigators. The court has also strictly prohibited him from contacting the complainant or attempting to influence any witness.
Kerala’s Pathanamthitta District Court on January 28 granted bail to expelled Congress MLA Mamkoothil in an alleged sexual harassment case. The court granted him bail on the 18th day of his arrest in the third rape case.
On January 17, the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court at Thiruvalla rejected the bail plea of Mamkoothil. Earlier, he had got relief from the courts in the first two complaints filed against him, but in connection with the third case, he was arrested and sent to custody.
According to the prosecution, the third case is based on the allegation that the MLA allegedly lured a woman to a hotel with the promise of marriage and sexually assaulted her.
This is the third complaint of sexual harassment against the Palakkad MLA related to serious allegations like physical assault, financial exploitation and forced abortion.
Earlier, the bail hearing was held in-camera on the request of Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP) MG Devi to prevent the identity and details of the victim from becoming public. The magistrate sought the opinion of defense counsel, Shasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, regarding holding the hearing in-camera, following which the request was accepted.
All persons not related to the case were asked to leave the courtroom and lengthy arguments were heard before the court rejected the bail plea.
Meanwhile, in the first sexual assault case, the High Court had stayed Mamkootathil’s arrest, while in the second case a lower court had granted anticipatory bail.
On 12 December, following an official order, the investigation into the first alleged rape case against Mamkoothil was handed over to the state police crime branch. Earlier the case was being handled by the Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner.
After the transfer, both the rape cases registered against the expelled Congress MLA are now being monitored by Assistant Inspector General of Police Poonguzhali, who was already leading the investigation in the second case.
