Relief for Rahul Mamkootathil: Kerala HC extends interim protection from arrest til Jan 7, 2026

Kochi: Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has received temporary relief in the first rape case filed against him, in which he was accused of sexually assaulting a woman and coercing her into an abortion. The High Court has extended the order preventing his arrest until January 7, 2026. The court will consider his anticipatory bail petition after the Christmas break.

In the first rape case, the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court had earlier denied him anticipatory bail. Following this, Rahul approached the High Court, which issued an interim order preventing his arrest until the petition is decided. On Thursday, after reviewing the petition, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas extended the interim protection till January 7, 2026.

Meanwhile, in another rape case, Rahul had already been granted anticipatory bail by the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court. The state government has filed an appeal against that order in the High Court.

The High Court on December 15 had extended the protection till December 18. Prior to that, on December 6, the High Court had protected the MLA from arrest till December 15.

Mamkootathil, who was expelled from Congress party, has claimed in his plea that he was innocent and his custodial interrogation was not required.

He has also contended that the relationship between him and the complainant was consensual, and when it became strained, a complaint was lodged against him.

Mamkootathil, who had gone into hiding after the police registered the first case for rape and forced abortion against him, returned after the High Court granted him interim relief on December 6.

He appeared in Palakkad to cast his vote in the local body elections on December 11.

(With PTI inputs)