Rahul Mamkootathil has received a major legal breather as the Thiruvananthapuram Additional Sessions Court granted him anticipatory bail in the second sexual assault case filed by a 23-year-old woman from Bengaluru. The order came after detailed arguments from both sides, following the bail plea submitted last Saturday.
The complaint, sent via email to the KPCC president and later forwarded to the DGP, accuses Rahul of sexually assaulting the woman under the pretext of marriage. The Crime Branch registered the FIR based on this forwarded complaint. Initially, the complainant’s statement was not recorded, prompting IG Poonguzhali to intervene personally and document it.
The defence raised several suspicions: the complainant had ample options to contact the police directly, yet chose to email a political leader; the complaint lacked essential details such as her name, the date, and the place of the alleged incident; and the allegation surfaced soon after the first case against Rahul was taken up by the court. They argued that these factors pointed to a politically motivated conspiracy.
The prosecution, however, countered that the survivor’s statement was clear and detailed, and emphasised the seriousness of the allegations, urging the court not to grant bail.
According to the woman’s testimony, Rahul subjected her to brutal physical and sexual assault in a homestay in 2023, after promising to marry her. She alleged that he inflicted injuries across her body, pinned her down despite her difficulty breathing, and repeatedly told her, “I wanted to rape you.” After the assault, he allegedly refused to marry her, leaving her emotionally and physically devastated.
She also stated that Rahul continued to pursue and harass her afterward—calling repeatedly, abusing her when she didn’t respond, and even demanding that they “should have a child.” Her statement was submitted to the court in a sealed cover, citing fear and psychological distress.
Meanwhile, in the first sexual assault case against him, the district court had earlier rejected his anticipatory bail plea. However, the High Court has restrained his arrest until the 15th, giving him temporary protection.
The legal battle continues, but for now, Rahul has secured a crucial relief in the second case.
