‘Police surrounded my hotel over a complaint’: Mamkootathil slams cops over Ganesh Kumar controversy

Thiruvananthapuram: Expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has launched a sharp attack on the Kerala government over the controversy involving Transport Minister KB Ganesh Kumar, questioning the alleged inaction of the police despite a distress call made by the minister’s wife.

Reacting to the allegations raised by Bindu Menon, Mamkootathil said the episode highlighted how power was allegedly being misused in the state.

“A very serious and grave issue has been raised by Bindu Menon, the wife of Minister Ganesh Kumar. She has said that her phone is being tracked. How could such a thing happen? Is it not a grave crime and a blatant misuse of power?” he asked.

Mamkootathil, who was expelled from the Congress after three rape cases were registered against him, also drew a comparison between his own arrest and the police response in the minister’s case.

Also read | ‘Police abandoned complainant’: Satheesan slams govt over allegations by Ganesh Kumar’s wife

“I was arrested by the police after they surrounded the hotel where I was staying, based merely on a complaint. But here, in the case of Ganesh Kumar, the victim herself called 112, the police emergency helpline. Why did nothing happen?” he asked.

The expelled MLA also linked the controversy to what he described as political consequences stemming from Ganesh Kumar’s past actions.

“This is the price that Ganesh Kumar is paying for hunting and haunting two-time former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,” he alleged.

The Kerala Congress (B) leader married Menon in 2014 after legally separating from Yamini Thankachy.

Also read | ‘Love is not a crime’: Ganesh Kumar says family matters are private, responds to allegations

She said a major dispute occurred in 2019 and that she had sought the assistance of former DGP and BJP leader R Sreelekha, who is her relative.

Menon said she had been living separately for the past several months because of Ganesh's relationship with several women.

"I used to fight with him over several women. Then my phones were tracked and allegations were raised against me for having affairs with my friends. That is how I was controlled," she said.

She alleged that Kumar blocked her phone and directed his staff not to speak with her.

She said that after learning about what was happening at Kumar's house in Valakom in Kollam district, she contacted several women and warned them.

She said she wanted closure in their relationship and went to the Valakom house on Saturday to know what was happening there.

"I went there and entered the bedroom. Am I mad to say what I saw in the bedroom?" she asked.

She alleged that when she attempted to take photographs, the driver, identified as Santhan, tried to stop her.

"It was a very bad situation. I have all the pictures," she said.

"I did not harm anyone, even the minister, because he will again say that I am mad. But he asked Santhan to snatch my mobile phone," she said.

She said she then contacted Sreelekha.

"She told me to contact 112 immediately. Then I ran out," she said.