Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil expelled from Congress over rape allegations

KPCC president Sunny Joseph, on Thursday said that Rahul Mamkootathil, who is currently under suspension, has been removed from Congress party's primary membership based on the serious allegations raised against him and the cases registered in connection with them.

He was expelled after the District Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the rape case registered by the Nemom police.

"Rahul Mamkootathil, who is currently under suspension, has been expelled from the primary membership of the Congress based on the serious complaints and the cases registered against him," KPCC president Sunny Joseph MLA said in a statement. He said the expulsion was carried out with the approval of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

What are the charges against Mamkootathil?

Rahul Mamkootathil was booked on 28 November on charges of alleged rape, criminal intimidation, and coerced abortion, with the FIR listing multiple non-bailable sections. Kerala Police have also arraigned his friend Joby Joseph as the second accused in the case, ANI reported.

According to the FIR, the survivor was allegedly sexually assaulted by Rahul on March 4 this year at her flat in Thrikkannapuram, Thiruvananthapuram. The complaint states that Rahul allegedly assaulted her and forced her into sexual intercourse.

What KPCC President said

In a statement, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said the party had reviewed the allegations and decided that Mankootathil could no longer continue in the organisation. He noted that the MLA had already been under suspension.

The Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Court rejected the petition after hearing arguments from both sides over two days.

Mamkoottathil won the Palakkad Assembly by-election in November last year by a record margin of 18,724 votes. A strong critic of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Left government, Mamkoottathil rose to the leadership of the Youth Congress in Kerala through TV debates and with the support of Shafi Parambil MP, reported PTI.