Thrissur, Kerala: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday described the court verdict in the Rahul Mamkootathil case as a routine aspect of judicial proceedings.

Earlier in the day, the Kerala High Court had issued an interim stay on Rahul’s arrest.

  "Now, he has approached the High Court with an anticipatory bail plea. The court has accepted it and posted the case for hearing on a date. This is usually the practice in our state," the Chief Minister said. 

Speaking to reporters at the Thrissur Press Club during a “Meet the Press” session, the CM emphasised that in Kerala, authorities typically await a court decision before taking action, explaining why the arrest had not been carried out yet. 

On the disruption at Thrissur Pooram, he said there was currently no follow‑up on that issue.

He added that a detailed comment on the matter could only be made once the full report is submitted.

On Friday, speaking to reporters at a press meet in Kochi, the CM claimed that the Congress leadership was already aware of the facts much before the reports of the MLA's alleged acts came out.

"Yet, the leadership chose to present him as a 'future investment'. That is something they should introspect about. Can any party justify such actions? Isn't Congress a party that claims to uphold a great legacy?" he asked.

The CM said that the police were taking effective steps to apprehend the legislator, who is facing allegations of sexual assault from multiple women, but the Congress was protecting him.

"All kinds of information have now come out. How horrifying these matters are. Aren't these acts enough to shock anyone with a human conscience? Weren't these clearly the actions of a sexual pervert? Is this something a public figure should be involved in?

"When allegations of this nature arise against a public representative, shouldn't there be immediate efforts to remove them from their position? But efforts are being made to protect him. If such efforts are stopped, police will be able to arrest him," he said.

Vijayan also said that there were other legislators in the Congress who faced similar allegations or were jailed for other offences, but were still continuing in the party. "Eldhose Kunnappilly and M Vincent are still in the party," he said.