Thiruvananthapuram, 2 Dec (H.S.):The Kerala Police have intensified their search for Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkoottathil, who has gone absconding after a rape case and related charges were filed against him.

Although investigators initially chose to await the District Sessions Court’s decision on his anticipatory bail plea—scheduled for hearing on Wednesday—they have now launched statewide and interstate search operations.

Police teams are conducting coordinated searches across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Bengaluru, with special squads formed in every district under respective Superintendents of Police.

Individuals linked to the MLA are also under tight surveillance. Joby Joseph, Rahul’s close associate and the second accused, has also gone into hiding.

Thiruvananthapuram City Police Commissioner Thomson Jose is supervising the multi-district operation.

According to senior officers, the MLA is unlikely to secure bail, as the survivor has given an extensive statement detailing prolonged sexual harassment, multiple instances of rape, and a forced abortion.

She has provided the police with specific dates of alleged assaults at apartments in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad.

Based on her testimony, the MLA has been charged with four sections related to rape, along with provisions concerning the sexual harassment of a pregnant woman.

Meanwhile, Rahul has submitted additional materials to the court claiming his innocence. His legal team has produced WhatsApp chats, call records, and photographs of the survivor with her husband, disputing her claim that she was estranged from her spouse when she became pregnant.

He maintains that their relationship was consensual and that the abortion was performed with her consent.

If the Sessions Court rejects his plea, sources say Rahul is preparing to approach the Kerala High Court for relief.

In a related development, the police have written to Meta, seeking the removal of defamatory posts targeting the survivor on Facebook.

The survivor’s statement also reveals that she attempted suicide twice. The first attempt involved consuming an excessive dose of medication after the alleged rape and forced abortion.

She remained hospitalised for several days. In the second incident, she attempted to slash a vein in her hand.

During treatment, she told the attending doctor that Rahul had forced her to take abortion pills—an account the doctor has formally corroborated to the police.

The investigation remains in full swing as police continue efforts to trace and arrest the absconding MLA.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman