Rahul Mamkootathil visits constituency weeks after sexual misconduct allegations
Palakkad (PTI): Suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil on Wednesday arrived at the Palakkad constituency for the first time after the sexual misconduct allegations against him and the subsequent party action.
He last arrived at the constituency, which he represents in the Assembly, on August 17.
The MLA, who reportedly started from his house in Adoor in the morning, reached here in the accompaniment of local party leaders, sources said.
Mamkootathil arrived here to visit the house of a close relative of a local Congress leader.
Though he was surrounded by reporters, he declined to speak to them and walked away with a smile.
A large number of police personnel were deployed in front of the MLA office since morning, anticipating protests by opposition parties in view of Mamkootathil's visit.
Activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI), the youth wing of the ruling CPI(M), carried out a march with a microphone announcing the arrival of the Congress MLA. They urged women to be vigilant against the MLA.
Later in the day, Mamkootathil arrived at his MLA office and interacted with local party functionaries and other people there.
He said he was a person who led several agitations before and so he welcomed any protests against him.
"I have no negative stand towards protests. It is protests that strengthen democracy," he said, adding that he would talk to the media in detail later.
After shutting himself at his house for several days in view of allegations, Mamkootathil had walked into the Kerala Assembly last week, which was his first public appearance since being suspended from the party.
The SFI activists had blocked his vehicle near the MLA Hostel and staged a protest.
The MLA had later met the reporters in front of the Legislative Assembly complex here and clarified that his arrival in the House was not in defiance of the Congress leadership.
The legislator, however, was not ready to say anything regarding the allegations against him or about the purported audio clips regarding that, despite repeated questions by the media.
Mamkootathil recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused "a young leader" of a well-known political party of misbehaviour and subsequent protests by the BJP and DYFI.
Subsequently, some women and a transgender person accused him of similar charges. He was also suspended from the Congress party over the allegations.
#WATCH | Palakkad, Kerala: Suspended Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil returned to his constituency today. This is his first visit to Palakkad since his suspension from the party amid allegations of sexual harassment against him. pic.twitter.com/oVTkk2bjpD
— ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2025
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Commission agent's licence suspended in Meerut for storing veggies in toilet
Meerut (UP) (PTI): The market administration in Meerut has suspended the licence of a commission agent or ‘arhtiya’ for storing vegetables inside a defunct toilet at the Mawana Naveen Sabzi Mandi in the city, officials said on Sunday.
The action followed after a video went viral showing vegetables, including tomato, ladyfinger, green chilli, coriander, mint and bottle gourd – packed in polythene bags inside an unused toilet on the market premises.
The secretary of the Mandi committee, Arjun Singh, told PTI that the toilet had been out of use for a long time due to being clogged.
“Abhay Kumar, the proprietor of Pradhan Trading Company, stored leftover vegetables there without permission. Within two hours of receiving information on May 15, a team from the Mandi committee reached the spot, seized about one quintal of vegetables, and buried them in a pit,” Singh said.
A notice was issued to Abhay Kumar, but since no satisfactory response was received, his licence has been suspended, he added.
According to officials, toilets in the market complex meant for use by farmers, commission agents and customers were allegedly being used as storerooms.
Following the incident, SDM Santosh Kumar Singh has sought an explanation from the Mandi committee secretary.
Strict action would be taken against those found guilty after an inquiry report is received, the SDM said.
