A bombshell in Kerala’s political arena: Nemom MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, a rising Congress star, has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days by Aluva court in a rape and harassment case that has gripped the state. The allegations, lodged by a Congress woman leader, accuse the MLA of exploiting his position for sexual misconduct over several months.
The sequence of events unfolded dramatically. The victim, brave enough to break silence despite threats, approached authorities with recordings and eyewitness accounts from party retreats and constituency offices. Kerala’s vigilant police apparatus responded with an FIR under stringent POCSO-adjacent clauses and general rape provisions, leading to Mamkootathil’s arrest on Friday.
Court proceedings today were tense. The MLA, handcuffed and flanked by heavy security, pleaded not guilty, with his team alleging a smear campaign linked to internal party rifts. Prosecutors, armed with material evidence, convinced the bench of flight risk and tampering concerns, securing the remand order.
Reactions poured in from all quarters. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan termed it a ‘stain on opposition politics,’ while Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called for restraint. Feminist organizations staged protests outside the court, highlighting systemic failures in addressing power-based abuses.
This development not only jeopardizes Mamkootathil’s legislative seat but also ignites debates on gender justice in politics. With interrogation intensifying and bail hearings slated soon, Kerala’s eyes are on this unfolding drama, hoping for a precedent-setting verdict that prioritizes survivor voices over political clout.