Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil sent to police custody for 3 days in rape case

The First Class Magistrate’s Court at Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, granted three-day police custody to the Kerala Police Crime Branch of Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is currently in judicial custody following his arrest on rape charges on Sunday.

Authorities said the period of detention was from 12:45 a.m. Tuesday to 5 p.m. Thursday. The police had brought Mr. Mamkootathil under heavy police escort from the sub-jail at Mavelikara in Alappuzha to the court, amid noisy street protests by activists of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). An anonymous protester hurled an egg at Mr Mamkooathil, who narrowly missed the MLA outside the sub-jail.

Mr Mamkooathil’s defense lawyer opposed giving custody of the MLA to the Crime Branch, stating that his arrest was based on “flimsy” legal grounds.

The defense pointed to perceived procedural flaws, including the lack of a signed complaint. Mr Mamkooathil’s lawyer argued that the Crime Branch hastily arrested the MLA in the early hours of Sunday, based on a “weak email” received by the Chief Minister’s Office.

He argued that the special investigation team (SIT) did not take the affidavit of the complainant under Article 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarika Nyaya Samhiti.

The lawyer also stated that Mr Mamkooathil’s relationship with the complainant was consensual.

Prosecutor’s stance

The prosecution argued that the custodial questioning of Mr Mamkooathil was essential to recover evidence, including the digital devices he used for private and social communications with the alleged victim from 2020 onwards. He accused Mr Mamkooathil of failing to co-operate with investigators, including by withholding passwords to mobile phones.

The prosecution told the court that Mr Mamkooathil was a “serial sex offender” with a “history of terrorizing his victims”. He stated that the Crime Branch is investigating three separate rape charges against the MLA.

The State side highlighted the need to escort Mr Mamkootathil to the scene of the crime, to a hotel room in Thiruvalla, and record his statement, as well as speak to witnesses and others (including several people aware of his relationship with the alleged victim) as part of the investigation.

second complaint

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Office has forwarded the second complaint from the alleged victim, who claimed that he was the target of a planned social media attack to defame his character and integrity, to State Police Chief (SPC) Ravada Chandrasekhar for further action.

Excise Minister MB Rajesh said “troll farms working for Mr. Mamkooathil” are constantly targeting their victims. “The aim of the online campaign is to create a chilling effect on victims who bravely come forward and deter further complainants,” he added.