The sessions court Judge, Nazeera S, had, on Wednesday, granted anticipatory bail to Rahul Makootathil, holding that there was no prima facie material to support the survivor’s allegation that the MLA had raped her.
Photo: IANS
The Kerala government on Thursday moved the high court, challenging the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court order granting anticipatory bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the second rape case registered against him based on a complaint filed by a woman from Bengaluru.
The sessions court Judge, Nazeera S, had, on Wednesday, granted anticipatory bail to Rahul Makootathil, holding that there was no prima facie material to support the survivor’s allegation that the MLA had raped her.
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The state government, in its petition, questioning the findings, argued that the MLA is a “serial offender”, pointing out that he is also an accused in another case registered by the Nemom Police involving allegations of rape, forced abortion, criminal intimidation, and misuse of private image. In that case, the Kerala High Court on December 6 granted him interim protection from arrest, with the matter posted for further hearing on December 15.
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In her complaint, the 23-year-old woman alleged that Mamkootathil promised to marry her and forcefully had physical intimacy with her. “I resisted, clearly stating that I was not ready and needed time. He ignored my objections, repeatedly asserting that such intimacy was “natural”, the complaint alleged.
Rahul Mamkootathil on Thursday turned up to cast his vote in the local body polls at Kunnathurmedu ward in Palakkad. He has been absconding for the last more than two weeks after the first FIR was registered against him for sexual assault and forced abortion.
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