Kochi, 07 Jan (H.S.): The Kerala High Court will on Wednesday hear the anticipatory bail plea filed by MLA Rahul Mankootathil in connection with a rape case registered against him. The Single Bench headed by Justice A. Badharudeen will also consider an application filed by the survivor seeking to be impleaded as a party in the proceedings and to be heard while opposing the bail plea.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case, is expected to submit its report before the High Court, opposing the grant of anticipatory bail. Earlier, the anticipatory bail plea filed by Rahul Mankootathil in the first case registered by the SIT had been dismissed by the Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court. Following this, the MLA approached the High Court seeking pre-arrest protection.

Pending a final decision on the anticipatory bail application, the High Court had earlier granted interim relief by staying the arrest of the accused. The court is now set to hear detailed arguments from all sides before taking a call on whether to grant or deny anticipatory bail.

The case against the MLA includes serious charges such as rape, sexual assault on the promise of marriage, coercion to undergo abortion, and criminal trespass. The survivor has also filed a separate petition before the High Court opposing the anticipatory bail and seeking to be impleaded in the case. In her plea, she has urged the court to hear her submissions, stating that she is facing sustained cyber harassment and online attacks in connection with the case.

The High Court’s hearing is expected to be crucial, as it will determine the future course of the anticipatory bail plea amid mounting legal and public scrutiny surrounding the allegations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman