MLA elect Rahul Mamkootathil during a meet-the-press event at Palakkad. File Photo
| Photo Credit: K.K. Mustafah
Rahul Mamkootathil won the Palakkad Assembly by-election in November 2024 with a record margin of 18,724 votes and was considered one of the promising young leaders of the Congress party. However, by December 4, 2025, the 36-year-old faced multiple criminal allegations, leading the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) to expel him amid a sexual predation scandal affecting the United Democratic Front (UDF) Opposition since August. He was arrested at a hotel in Palakkad around midnight on January 10, 2026 following a series of alleged offences spanning several months.
Here’s a look at how the events unfolded:
August 21, 2025 – Rahul Mamkootathil, then Kerala Youth Congress president, resigned from his post amid multiple allegations of sexual misconduct by several women, including Malayalam actor Rini Ann George.
August 25, 2025 – The Congress party suspended the MLA from its primary membership following accusations of serial sexual misconduct, stalking, and predation.
November 27, 2025 – A rape case was formally registered against Mr. Mamkootathil after a woman submitted a complaint to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which was forwarded to the police. The FIR, registered at Nemom police station in Thiruvananthapuram, alleged rape and coercion to terminate a pregnancy during their relationship. Mr. Mamkootathil denied these allegations, stating that the relationship was consensual and the charges were driven by hidden agenda.
December 3, 2025 – The Kerala Crime Branch registered a second rape case based on a complaint by another woman, a 23-year-old, alleging assault at a homestay after promises of marriage.
December 5, 2025 – Mr. Mamkootathil approached the Kerala High Court, seeking anticipatory bail.
December 6, 2025 – The Kerala High Court granted interim protection from arrest to Mr. Mamkootathil in the first rape and forced abortion case, postponing detailed consideration of his anticipatory bail plea while adjourned bail hearings were scheduled.
December 10, 2025 – In the second case, a sessions court granted anticipatory bail to Mr. Mamkootathil, noting factors such as delay in lodging the complaint, and imposed conditions on his conduct while investigations continue.
December 18, 2025 – The Kerala High Court extended interim protection from arrest until January 7, 2026, allowing Mr. Mamkootathil to avoid custodial arrest temporarily while the court prepared for a detailed hearing in the first case.
January 3, 2026 – The rape survivor’s husband publicly demanded action against Mr. Mamkootathil, stating a separate complaint had been filed with senior officials and expressing concern over police inaction.
January 5, 2026 – A fresh complaint was filed against activist Rahul Easwar by the survivor in the first sexualt assault case, alleging he violated bail conditions by continuing to criticise the survivor online. Mr. Easwar had been earlier arrested for cyber harassment and released on bail with conditions.
January 7, 2026 – The Kerala High Court adjourned hearing on Mr. Mamkootathil’s pre-arrest bail petition in the first sexual assault case to January 21, 2026, and extended the interim protection from arrest until then. The complainant was permitted to be impleaded in the bail proceedings.
January 10, 2026 – A police team led by the Shoranur DySP took Mr. Mamkootathil into custody from a hotel in Palakkad in connection with the third rape complaint. Officials said the police have indicted him on charges of rape, coerced medical termination of pregnancy, financial extortion, cheating, confidence trickery, illegal detention, and obtaining sexual consent by deceitfully promising marriage. He was subsequently taken to Pathanamthitta, where he is to be questioned and produced before a magistrate in Thiruvalla.
Published – January 11, 2026 03:30 pm IST
