Suspended Congress MLA Charged With Multiple Rapes Including During Victim's Pregnancy: Police Investigation Details

Further investigation is ongoing. (Representational)

Thiruvananthapuram:

According to the police FIR filed against suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil, he allegedly raped the complainant multiple times, including during her pregnancy.

The FIR details that Mamkoottathil assaulted and raped the complainant on several occasions. It states that on March 17, videos of the woman were recorded at her apartment, and he reportedly threatened to release them if their relationship became public knowledge.

Despite knowing about her pregnancy, Mamkoottathil allegedly raped the complainant at her apartment on April 22, and again over two days in late May at his Palakkad apartment, according to the FIR.

On May 30, the second accused, Joby Joseph, described as Mamkoottathil's close associate, allegedly provided abortion pills to the complainant inside a vehicle. Mamkoottathil then reportedly forced her to consume these pills to terminate the pregnancy.

The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 64(2)(f) (rape by a person in a position of authority), 64(2)(h) (rape knowing the woman is pregnant), 64(2)(m) (repeated rape), 89 (causing miscarriage without consent), 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (joint criminal liability). Police have additionally invoked Section 66(E) of the Information Technology Act for alleged recording and threats regarding private images.

Nemom police have re-registered the FIR after the case was transferred from Valiyamala police station. A special investigation team has been formed, and a lookout circular issued to prevent the accused from leaving the country. Both Mamkoottathil and Joseph are reportedly evading arrest, with police efforts to locate them proving unsuccessful thus far.

The complainant's confidential statement is being recorded before a Judicial First Class Magistrate in Neyyattinkara on Friday afternoon. The investigation team filed a petition at the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court, resulting in the Magistrate's appointment to record her statement. The FIR was registered after the complainant approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday.

Her initial statement was recorded at the Thiruvananthapuram rural police headquarters before the case was officially registered on Friday.