Kerala HC Grants Interim Relief to Cong MLA Mamkootathil, No Arrest Till Dec 15
Congress MLA gets temporary relief in rape case as High Court pauses arrest amid ongoing investigation
New Delhi, Dec 06 : In a major interim relief, the Kerala High Court on Saturday directed that Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil shall not be arrested until December 15, offering temporary protection even as the legislator remains untraceable amid mounting pressure from police and his own party.
A Constitution Bench issued the order while considering the MLA’s anticipatory bail plea in the rape case registered against him.
The relief came just a day after the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court rejected his bail request, noting that custodial interrogation was essential for a fair inquiry given the gravity of the allegations.
During Saturday’s hearing, Mamkootathil’s counsel informed the High Court that further submissions needed to be made before the matter could proceed. The Bench clarified it would not examine the merits of the case at this stage but granted interim protection from arrest.
The order effectively halts the police’s escalating manhunt until the next hearing.
Senior Congress leader KC Venugopal, reacting to the development, said that “anyone can approach the judicial system,” adding that the party had taken necessary action. Mamkootathil was expelled from the Congress earlier this week after the allegations surfaced.
The MLA’s continued disappearance has drawn criticism from across parties, with many questioning his refusal to cooperate with the investigation.
The High Court order not only brings temporary relief to Mamkootathil but also eases political pressure on the Congress, especially with the two-phase local body elections nearing conclusion by December 15.
