Kerala Speaker says complaint by an MLA needed to refer Rahul Mamkootathil case to Privileges and Ethics Committee

Complaints seeking the disqualification of rape-accused MLA Rahul Mamkootathil can be referred to the Committee on Privileges and Ethics of the State Legislative Assembly if an MLA lodges such a complaint, Kerala Speaker A.N. Shamseer said on Wednesday (January 14, 2026).

“If the Speaker is to move the committee with such a complaint, a member of the Assembly should lodge the complaint. If such a complaint is given, we will refer it to the committee,” Mr. Shamseer told a press conference held in connection with the Budget Session commencing on January 20.

Mr. Mamkootathil, who represents the Palakkad constituency in the House, was arrested on rape charges on Sunday.

Mr. Shamseer said the Kerala Assembly has received several private complaints seeking the disqualification of Mr. Mamkootathil or action against him by the Privileges and Ethics Committee of the House. “But these are private complaints and, as such, cannot be dealt with by the committee,” Mr. Shamseer said.

On the House’s part, this is also a matter that has to be dealt with “with utmost care”. Also, there is no precedent of a series of such allegations being levelled against a member, he said.

At the same time, the allegations against Mr. Mamkootathil should not be used to portray the Assembly or the other members in a bad light, he said. “Just because one mango in a basket is rotten, it doesn’t mean that all the other mangoes in it are bad too,” he said.

The public expects a certain decorum from the members, and the latter has the responsibility to rise to these expectations, he added.