Thiruvalla: In yet another setback for MLA Rahul Mamkoothathil, the Thiruvalla First Class Magistrate Court granted the SIT three days of custody in the third rape case.

His bail plea is scheduled to be heard by the court on January 16. The court will soon begin evidence collection in connection with the case. As part of the process, he will be taken to a hotel in Thiruvalla for evidence collection. The SIT will also interrogate him in detail.

Mamkoothathil was arrested late on Saturday night in Palakkad and was initially produced before the Pathanamthitta court, which is handling proceedings on behalf of the Thiruvalla court.

The court convened at 12.15 pm on Tuesday, with Rahul’s case called first. His lawyer argued that proper procedures regarding arrest and custody had not been followed and requested that he not be held in custody. The court, however, accepted the prosecution’s contention that digital evidence needed to be collected and he should be taken to Palakkad for evidence collection.

The Special Investigation Team handling the case had filed an application in the magistrate’s court on Tuesday seeking Rahul’s custody.