New Delhi, 25 March (H.S.):

The Supreme Court upheld anticipatory bail granted to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil Wednesday in a rape and forced abortion case while striking out certain High Court observations against the complainant.

Justices M M Sundresh and N Kotiswar Singh dismissed the survivors challenge to Kerala High Courts February 12 order that had given the Palakkad MLA relief. The bench noted Though we wont disturb the High Courts final call the comments about the petitioner were unnecessary. They stand expunged.

Mamkootathil faces multiple sexual assault allegations including this first case where a woman accused him of rape and coercing abortion. The High Court had imposed strict conditions like surrendering his phone staying in Kerala and cooperating with probes without prima facie finding non-consensual acts.

Expelled from Congress amid the scandal the MLA got bail terms including interrogation limits and witness non-contact.

The Supreme Court ruling preserves his pre-arrest protection but cleanses the record of potentially prejudicial language toward the accuser balancing legal rights on both sides.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar