Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 11, 2025 — A Kerala court on Wednesday granted conditional anticipatory bail to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the second rape case filed against him.

The bail order was issued by District and Sessions Judge Nazeera S with the condition that Mamkootathil must appear before the investigating officers every Monday and fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The bail provides him protection from immediate arrest. Reports suggest that the MLA, expelled from the Congress last week, may return to his Palakkad constituency on Thursday to cast his vote in the local body elections.

In this second case, Mamkootathil is accused of raping a 23-year-old woman under the pretext of marriage, causing severe physical injuries. The complainant initially sent her allegations via email to Congress state chief Sunny Joseph, who forwarded them to the Crime Branch, leading to the case registration.

The MLA’s bail plea cited a two-year delay in reporting the alleged offence and claimed that the complainant approached the Congress party rather than the police directly. He also argued that custodial interrogation was unnecessary and assured full cooperation with the investigation.

Rahul Mamkootathil first came under scrutiny in August after a woman actor accused him of sending obscene messages. Subsequent complaints, including audio evidence, led to allegations of rape and forced termination of pregnancy. Following these revelations, he was suspended from the Congress party and asked to step down as the Youth Congress state chief.

The High Court had earlier allowed his appeal for bail in the first rape case, though a favorable order had not yet been issued by the sessions court. The investigation into both cases continues.