Suspended Cong MLA Mamkoottathil booked for alleged sexual assault
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala police on Friday said they have registered a case against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil after a woman accused him of sexual assault and forcing her to terminate pregnancy.
The case was registered at the Valiyamala Police Station on Friday based on the woman's statement recorded late Thursday.
The complainant had approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with her grievance on Thursday against the suspended Congress legislator.
Her detailed statement was later recorded by woman police officers at the Thiruvananthapuram Rural Police headquarters, sources said.
The procedures continued till late at night, after which a decision was taken to register the case.
According to police sources, the case has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for sexual assault on the false promise of marriage, forced abortion, and criminal intimidation.
Police will approach the Thiruvananthapuram Chief Judicial Magistrate Court to record the confidential statement of the complainant.
A team of doctors will soon assess the medical condition of the woman, sources added.
Meanwhile, Mamkootathil has reportedly gone into hiding after the woman approached the chief minister. Police have begun efforts to trace him.
Congress leaders in Palakkad said Mamkoottathil was actively campaigning in the Kanadi area for local body elections till around 4 pm on Thursday, after which he and a close associate were not seen.
Earlier, the Crime Branch had registered a case based on audio clips and chat messages that surfaced after third-party individuals sent an email to the police headquarters, as the woman had not come forward at the time.
Two days ago, another audio clip was released, in which the MLA purportedly expressed his desire for a child but later urged the woman to undergo an abortion.
Mamkoottathil was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on August 25.
He had earlier resigned as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused a young leader of misbehaviour, prompting protests by the BJP and the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI(M).
Subsequently, several women and a transgender person also levelled allegations against him.
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KSRTC to run 1000 special services to clear Christmas rush
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation will operate 1000 additional special services in view of the Christmas festival.
In addition to the existing schedule, the special services will run on 19.12.2025, 20.12.2025 and 24.12.2025. Further, special buses will be operated from various places of intra & Interstate places to Bengaluru on 26.12.2025 & 28.12.2025.
Special buses will be exclusively operated from Bengaluru Kempegowda Bus Station to Dharmastala, Kukkesubramanya, Shivamogga, Hassan, Mangaluru, Kundapura, Shringeri, Horanadu, Davangere, Hubbali, Dharwad, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Gokarna, Sirsi, Karwar, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Ballari, Koppala, Yadgir, Bidar, Tirupathi, Vijayawada, Hyderabad and other places.
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Special buses from Mysuru Road Bus Station will be exclusively operated towards Mysuru, Hunsur, Piriyapatna, Virajpet, Kushalanagar, Madikeri.
The corporation has also announced a discount of 5 per cent on the fare if four or more passengers book tickets under a single reservation. A discount of 10 per cent will be extended on return journey tickets if onward and return tickets are booked simultaneously.
In addition to the above, special buses will be operated from all Taluk/District Bus Stands in the jurisdiction of KSRTC based on the traffic needs.
