Thiruvananthapuram: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) moved the district court on Monday to cancel the anticipatory bail of expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, alleging the legislator violated a judicial order by attempting to contact a complainant in a sexual assault case.

The SIT filed its petition before the Thiruvananthapuram District and Sessions Court, asserting that the Palakkad representative breached a specific bail condition that prohibits him from influencing witnesses or communicating with the survivors.

Mamkootathil is currently entangled in three separate sexual assault investigations. While he secured anticipatory bail in two of the cases, he was briefly remanded in judicial custody for the third before obtaining bail from a court in Pathanamthitta.

In response to the SIT’s filing, the court has issued a formal notice to the legislator and scheduled a hearing for February 28.

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The Defence's Explanation

The MLA’s legal representative, Advocate Sasthamangalam Ajith Kumar, dismissed the prosecution's claims as a misunderstanding. Speaking to PTI, Kumar characterised the alleged contact as an unintentional "missed call."

“The missed call happened due to a mistake. We have all the details about it," Kumar said. He further countered the SIT's narrative by claiming that a relative of the complainant had initiated contact with the MLA several weeks prior. "We also have details that a relative of the complainant had spoken to Mamkootathil a few weeks back.”

Kumar indicated that a comprehensive rebuttal, including evidence of the accidental nature of the call, would be presented during the upcoming court session.

Legal Background

The specific case at the centre of the SIT’s petition involves allegations from a woman who claims Mamkootathil sexually assaulted her after promising marriage. The Thiruvananthapuram court had granted him pre-arrest bail in this matter last December, under the condition that he refrain from any conduct that could compromise the integrity of the ongoing probe.

The 36-year-old legislator, who was once a rising star in the Congress party and won the Palakkad by-election by a record margin in late 2024, was expelled from the party last year following the emergence of multiple allegations of sexual misconduct and coercion. Mamkootathil has consistently denied the charges, labelling them politically motivated.

With inputs from PTI