Palakkad (Kerala), Dec 10 (LatestNewsX) — Word is spreading that Rahul Mamkootathil, the Palakkad MLA who was dismissed from the Congress party and is currently the subject of two separate rape allegations, might show up at his polling station on election day, even though he has only secured anticipatory bail in one of the cases.
People close to the matter say that Mamkootathil, who has been on the run for the last fortnight, is expected to arrive back in Palakkad on Thursday. He will likely vote at St. Sebastian’s School in Kunnathurmedu, where his name is on the electoral roll for Booth No. 2 of Ward No. 24 in the Palakkad Municipality.
The chatter comes after a significant legal move on Wednesday: the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court granted his anticipatory bail for the second rape case, but only under strict conditions. The judge ordered that Mamkootathil must report to the investigating officer every Monday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. and cooperate fully with the investigation. Additionally, the court directed that if he is later arrested in that case, he must be released on bail immediately.
The second case dates back to 27 November, when a young woman filed a complaint against him and brought the allegations to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Once the claim was made public, Mamkootathil reportedly fled, sparking a police search. Soon thereafter, the Congress suspended him and eventually expelled him from the party.
Last week the Kerala High Court ruled that he would not be arrested until the court reviewed his bail application on 15 December. With bail now in place for the second case, there is speculation that Mamkootathil will step back into public view, starting with the local body polls.
Police say that his detention in the first case can only be executed if the High Court either removes the stay on arrest or denies his bail request. Until that point, court orders keep him out of jail. Meanwhile, investigators have broadened the charges against him to include stalking, unlawful restraint and criminal trespass.
On Wednesday, the prosecution announced its intention to appeal the sessions court’s bail order in the second rape case and will file the appeal once the certified copy of the order is received by the higher court.
With the election day fast approaching, all attention turns to Palakkad to see whether Mamkootathil actually turns up at the polling booth and to observe how the ongoing legal saga will influence the next stage of his case.
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