Kochi, 15 December (H.S.): Today is a crucial day for Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, as the Kerala High Court will hear his anticipatory bail plea in connection with a rape case. The outcome of the hearing will determine whether the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch can proceed with his arrest.

In an order passed on December 6, a Division Bench of Justice K. Babu restrained the police from arresting the expelled Congress leader while his plea was pending and posted the matter for final hearing on December 15. If the High Court rejects his request for pre-arrest bail, the SIT will be free to arrest him later today.

The High Court’s decision is particularly significant as the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court had earlier rejected Mamkootathil’s anticipatory bail plea in the first rape case registered by the Nemom police, following which the Congress party expelled him. Two rape cases have been registered against the MLA.

The investigation is being conducted by a Special Investigation Team led by Assistant Inspector General of Police G. Poonkuzhali. Meanwhile, it has been reported that Mamkootathil is unlikely to appear before the probe team for interrogation on Monday.

While granting conditional anticipatory bail in the second rape case, based on a complaint filed by a 23-year-old woman, the Sessions Court had directed the MLA to appear before the probe team every Monday. However, Mamkootathil has claimed that he has not received any formal notice from the SIT so far and has maintained that he will present himself for questioning once such a notice is issued.

Sources, however, indicated that the SIT may summon him for interrogation only after the High Court delivers its verdict on his anticipatory bail plea in the first case.

Mamkootathil had been absconding since November 28 after the police registered the first rape case against him. After securing anticipatory bail in the second case, he resurfaced to cast his vote in the local body elections at the Kunnathurmedu ward in Palakkad on December 11.

Meanwhile, the Kerala government has moved the High Court seeking to set aside the Sessions Court order that granted anticipatory bail to the MLA in the second rape case.

The High Court’s ruling later today is expected to have a decisive impact on the course of the investigation and the immediate legal future of the embattled MLA.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman