MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Expelled from Congress Amid Sexual Harassment Case

Thiruvananthapuram: MLA Rahul Mamkootathil has been expelled from the primary membership of the Congress party. This decisive action follows the rejection of his anticipatory bail application in a sexual harassment case. KPCC President Sunny Joseph officially announced Rahul’s expulsion. Mamkootathil had taken the oath as Palakkad MLA on December 4th of the previous year.

KPCC President Sunny Joseph MLA further stated in a press release that Rahul Mamkootathil, who was already under suspension, was expelled from the Congress party’s primary membership due to the escalating number of complaints and registered cases against him.

Senior Congress leaders had previously advocated for Rahul’s expulsion. Several prominent figures, including K. Muraleedharan, had publicly criticized Rahul in recent days. The controversy surrounding Rahul had placed the Congress party on the defensive, especially with local elections on the horizon. This mounting pressure ultimately led to the decision to remove him from the party.

The announcement of Rahul’s expulsion came shortly after the court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case involving allegations of sexual assault and forced abortion. The arguments in the closed-door court hearing concluded on Thursday afternoon, with the verdict being reserved for later the same day.

During the court proceedings on the previous day, the defense submitted chats and a wedding photograph of the survivor as evidence. In contrast, the prosecution primarily focused on WhatsApp chats that indicated pressure being exerted on the survivor to undergo an abortion. With the court’s permission, additional WhatsApp conversations were subsequently presented as evidence.