Kerala Court To Hold In-Camera Hearing In MLA Rahul Mamkootathil's Bail Application In Third Rape Case

The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Thiruvalla on Friday (January 16) allowed an application for in-camera hearing in the bail application preferred by Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who is charged with rape.

Smt. Arundhanthi Dileep allowed the application.

Mamkootathil was arrested on Sunday (January 10). Thereafter, on Tuesday (January 13), he was produced before the magistrate, who allowed the custody application and gave custody to the police for three days. It had then deferred the hearing of Mamkootathil's bail application.

This is the third complaint made against him alleging the same offence. The offence is reported to have been filed by a NRI woman, who claimed that Mamkootathil raped her in a hotel room.

In the first complaint, the Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram denied him pre-arrest bail and he had approached the High Court. The bail application before the High Court is presently pending consideration but he has been granted interim protection from arrest in the case.

The Sessions Court, Thiruvananthapuram granted him anticipatory bail in the second case alleging rape. The State has moved the High Court seeking cancellation of the bail. The Court is set is hear the case on January 21.