File photo of Rahul Mamkootathil.
| Photo Credit: Nirmal Harindran
A magistrate in Pathanamthitta on Sunday (January 11, 2026) remanded Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to judicial custody after the police arrested him early morning on charges of rape and intimidation.
The magistrate sent him to a sub-jail in Mavelikkara for 14 days. The Crime Branch had produced him before the magistrate holding temporary charge.
The court rejected Mr. Mamkootathil’s defence lawyer’s plea to hear the MLA’s bail application immediately. The defence argued that the accused was a legislator and posed no flight risk. The defence said Mr. Mamkootathil would cooperate with the investigation and present himself, when required, before the investigating officer.
However, the prosecution opposed Mr. Mamkootathil’s arguments. It countered that he was a habitual offender and an accused in two comparable rape cases. Moreover, he was also facing charges of sexual misconduct against several women, including cyber stalking and sexual predation. The prosecution argued that enlarging Mr. Mamkootathil on bail would have a chilling effect on victims, including potential complainants.
It said the suspect could use its political influence and authority to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. The prosecution also pointed out that Mr. Mamkootathil had absconded for several weeks at a stretch and ignored legal summons after the police booked him on charges of rape in an earlier case in November 2024.
Protests
Meanwhile, DYFI and BJP-Yuva Morcha protests rocked Pathanamthitta and Palakkad. The police grappled with activists as they escorted Mr. Mamkootathil to the General Hospital in Pathanamthitta for medical examination.
DYFI and Yuva Morch workers attempted to mob Mr Mamkootathil when police produced the MLA at the magistrate’s house.
Published – January 11, 2026 03:07 pm IST
