Rahul Mankootathil Seeks In-Camera Hearing for Anticipatory Bail Plea

Thiruvananthapuram: MLA Rahul Mankootathil has filed a new petition in the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court, requesting that his anticipatory bail plea be heard in a closed-door setting. This new petition comes just ahead of his anticipatory bail application, which is scheduled to be considered by the court on Wednesday. In his petition, Rahul emphasized the need for a confidential hearing, citing significant privacy concerns.

Meanwhile, police are intensifying their search efforts for Rahul, who has reportedly been absconding for the sixth consecutive day. The victim’s statement provides detailed information, including specific dates of alleged sexual assaults that are said to have occurred in flats located in both Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad.

The case against Rahul Mankootathil has been registered under four sections pertaining to rape. An additional legal section has been applied based on the victim’s statement that she was allegedly sexually assaulted even after her pregnancy was known. Rahul, however, maintains his innocence and has submitted further evidence to the court to support his claims. His legal counsel has presented WhatsApp chats, recorded phone conversations, and photographs of the woman with her husband as part of the defense.

As part of the ongoing investigation into the sexual assault case against MLA Rahul Mankootathil, the police are also scrutinizing whether the surveillance camera footage from the Kunnathurmedu flat, where the MLA resided, has been intentionally erased. Investigators had collected this footage recently. Based on intelligence reports suggesting that Rahul might be hiding in Tamil Nadu, search operations are currently underway in various locations across the state. Concurrently, other reports indicate that he may be in hiding in Karnataka.