Kerala HC grants anticipatory bail to MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in first rape case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (February 12, 2026) granted anticipatory bail to expelled Congress leader and Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in the first case registered against him for alleged rape and forced abortion of a woman by Nemom police in Thiruvananthapuram.

The bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath granted bail to the MLA on the condition that he appears before the investigating officer for interrogation on February 16 and surrenders his mobile phone.

Inquiries can be made daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for three days. If the officer intends to arrest him, Mr. Mamkooathil must be released on bail security of ₹ 1 lakh. The MLA should also not attempt to contact the defendant or prosecution witnesses and should not leave Kerala. The court also said that he should hand over his passport to the investigating officer and reserved its decision on the matter.

The MLA was granted an extension of temporary protection against arrest in early January.

The Supreme Court also allowed the woman to file a criminal complaint after demolishing the allegations of rape and forced abortion against her.