- By Yashashvi Tak
- Sun, 11 Jan 2026 11:49 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Congress MLA from Palakkad, Rahul Mamkootathil, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday in connection with a sexual assault case, after a third complaint was filed against him by a woman from Pathanamthitta, who is currently working in Canada.
According to Kerala Police, Mamkootathil was taken into custody around 12:30 am on Saturday from the KPM Regency Hotel in Palakkad and later shifted to the AR Camp in Pathanamthitta. He will be produced before the Thiruvalla Magistrate following interrogation.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT), already probing two similar cases against the MLA, has now been assigned to investigate the latest complaint as well, sources told PTI.
On Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil's arrest, Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said, "He was expelled from our party. So we are not responsible for any of his activities. He is arrested, and that's a natural thing because we also got so many complaints against him. A strong stand was taken by the party in this matter. Before his election, there were no complaints against him. When he became MLA, complaints came in after some months."
#WATCH | Kerala: Heavy Police deployment in front of the Pathanamthitta District Headquarters Camp as the interrogation of expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil continues.
— ANI (@ANI) January 11, 2026
The Crime Branch team arrested him in connection with a rape case based on a fresh complaint against… pic.twitter.com/BB8kyF5kmj
Three Rape Cases Against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil
Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil is facing three separate rape cases registered on complaints from women in different districts, with investigators probing allegations of sexual assault, coercion, financial exploitation and pressure to terminate pregnancies.
Case 1: Complaint Forwarded By Chief Minister
The first case was registered after a woman submitted a detailed complaint to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who forwarded it to the State Police Chief for action.
Police booked Mamkootathil on charges of rape and coercing the complainant to terminate her pregnancy. Investigators also examined an audio recording allegedly featuring the MLA, in which he is heard expressing a desire for a child before later pressuring the woman to undergo an abortion.
A Kerala court rejected Mamkootathil’s anticipatory bail plea in this case, a development that reportedly led to celebrations by CPI(M)’s youth wing, DYFI, in Palakkad.
Case 2: 23-year-old woman’s complaint To Crime Branch
The second case was registered by the Crime Branch on the complaint of a 23-year-old woman.
She alleged that Mamkootathil sexually assaulted her at a private accommodation after repeatedly contacting her with promises of marriage. She claimed he misused his political position and influence and described him as a “sexual predator.”
A sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram later granted him anticipatory bail in this case.
Case 3: Pathanamthitta Woman Now In Canada
The latest case was filed following a complaint from a woman originally from Pathanamthitta district, who is currently residing in Canada. Her statement was recorded through video conferencing.
According to police sources, the married complainant alleged that Mamkootathil raped her after promising to marry her, later refusing responsibility when she became pregnant and threatening her to undergo an abortion. She also claimed he took money from her on multiple occasions.
Earlier MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Resigned As Youth Congress State President
Mamkootathil had stepped down from his post as Youth Congress state president earlier after Malayalam actor Rini Ann George accused “a young leader” of inappropriate conduct, an allegation that sparked protests by the BJP and the DYFI. In the days that followed, multiple women and a transgender individual also made similar claims, intensifying the controversy surrounding the MLA.
