Woman lodges sexual assault complaint against Rahul Mamkootathil with Kerala CM

Thiruvananthapuram: A woman on Thursday submitted a sexual assault complaint to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, shortly after a fresh purported audio recording of a conversation between them surfaced online. The complaint was handed over at the Chief Minister’s office and has since been forwarded to the State Police Chief for further action.

Why was the complaint filed now?

The latest move comes months after Mamkootathil faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct. Two days ago, a new purported audio clip appeared online in which he was heard insisting that he wanted a child, before later urging the woman to undergo an abortion.

Earlier, the Crime Branch had registered a case based on the initial audio clips and chat messages. That case began after an email was sent to police headquarters by a group of third parties, as the woman had not approached authorities directly at that time.

How did the MLA respond?

Reacting to the fresh development, the Palakkad MLA said he intends to contest the case through legal means.

"As long as I am convinced that I have done no wrong, I will continue to fight legally. I will prove everything in the court of law as well as in the court of the people. Truth will prevai..," he wrote on Facebook.

He was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25 after the allegations surfaced.

What have political leaders said?

State Health Minister Veena George expressed support for the complainant, saying Kerala stood with her.

"Dear sister, Do not lose strength...Kerala is with you..," she said in a social media post.

Background of earlier allegations

Mamkootathil had previously resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused “a young leader” of a major political party of misbehaviour. The accusation triggered protests by the BJP and the CPI(M)'s youth wing DYFI. Following this, several women and a transgender person raised similar allegations.

His rise in the party

Mamkootathil was elected MLA in November last year in a by-election for the Palakkad seat, held after party leader and then sitting MLA Shafi Parambil became the Lok Sabha MP from Vatakara.