Minister P Rajeev Says V D Satheeshan’s Claim on Rahul Mamkoottathil Appears to Shield Him

Thiruvananthapuram: Minister P Rajeev, responding to media queries on the Rahul Mamkoottathil sexual abuse case, said that Opposition leader V D Satheeshan had claimed that Mamkoottathil cannot be removed from his MLA position. “This implies that we will not allow anyone to oust him without proper consideration,” Rajeev added.

He noted that Rahul Mamkoottathil was backed by certain Congress leaders who now claim credit for taking action. “When the accusations surfaced, it seemed like the Kanagolu model, let things unfold and see how it can benefit the Congress, whether the outcome is good or bad. The opposition is pointing fingers, highlighting that while one MLA spent time in jail for abuse, another is seeking anticipatory bail. The Speaker will examine the details, and we will assess what can be done in the meantime,” he said.

Rajeev questioned who had “pampered this sexual offender” and stressed that Congress had taken disciplinary action once the situation escalated. “Cases like this are rare and serious, and no party can ignore them. Yet, some are attempting to twist the narrative into a political achievement. Our people know the timeline, when the accusation emerged and when action was actually taken,” he added. Meanwhile, Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil, who is lodged at the Mavelikkara Special Sub Jail in connection with his third rape case, has been remanded to police custody. The Thiruvalla Judicial First Class Magistrate Court rejected his bail plea and granted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) three days of custody, fully accepting the prosecution’s request. The SIT, led by G Poonkuzhali, will conduct detailed questioning and take Mamkoottathil to the hotel rooms mentioned in the survivor’s complaint for evidence collection. Investigators have already obtained CCTV footage from a Thiruvalla hotel, where the alleged assault took place, and are examining digital evidence. The court will revisit Mamkoottathil’s bail application on 16th January.