Rahul Mamkootathil must resign as MLA: V M Sudheeran

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran has demanded that Rahul Mamkootathil, the accused in a case involving the brutal sexual assault of a young woman and forcing her into an unlawful abortion, resign from his MLA post.

"In this matter, without clinging to technicalities, the Congress leadership must immediately take strict and exemplary action. Rahul should resign from the Legislative Assembly. The situation is extremely serious. I have spoken to the KPCC president and the Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan regarding this. What has come out are matters that should never happen,' Sudheeran told the media.

Sudheeran’s response comes at a time when the hearing on Mamkootathil's anticipatory bail plea is set to continue on Thursday. The Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court considered the bail application. The hearing was held in a closed courtroom. The decision was made after both the prosecution and the defence jointly requested privacy.

The prosecution, stating that there is evidence of rape and abortion, opposed the anticipatory bail plea. They informed the court that multiple similar complaints have been raised against the accused, and releasing him on bail may lead to destruction of evidence.

However, the defence argued that the complaint was part of a political conspiracy and an attempt to destroy Rahul’s public life. The defence rejected the allegations that rape and abortion had taken place.

The case was registered on the basis of the young woman’s complaint submitted to, among others, the Chief Minister. Rahul Mankootathil is the first accused in the case, and his friend Joby Joseph from Adoor, Pathanamthitta, who allegedly supplied the abortion pills, is the second accused. Rahul has been charged with rape, an offence that can attract a sentence of up to life imprisonment.

An audio clip in which Rahul allegedly threatens the woman and forces her to take abortion pills was submitted as evidence. He is also said to have confirmed via video call whether she had taken the pills. In another WhatsApp chat, Mankootathil is heard saying, “I want to make you pregnant. We need our child.” Another audio clip in which he allegedly forces her to undergo an abortion had also surfaced. Buying or using abortion pills without a doctor’s prescription is a criminal offence.

Meanwhile, a widespread search for Rahul is underway in Kerala and neighbouring states. There are indications that he is hiding in Bengaluru. Yesterday, a sexual harassment complaint received by the KPCC against Rahul was forwarded to the DGP by the KPCC leadership. This complaint is also being looked into by the Special Investigative Team.