Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil arrested in 3rd rape case
Kerala's Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was arrested early Sunday morning, January 11, 2026, after being accused of raping an NRI woman and pressuring her to have an abortion.
The woman, from Pathanamthitta, says he lured her to a hotel, assaulted her, and then forced her into ending the pregnancy.
This is now the third sexual assault case filed against Mamkootathil, who has already been expelled from Congress.
What's happening with the cases?
Mamkootathil was picked up by police at a Palakkad hotel just after midnight—this time before he could try to escape.
In his earlier cases, courts had given him temporary protection from arrest and anticipatory bail until January 21.
But this latest complaint is considered more serious because of strong evidence like messages, travel logs, and medical records.
A Special Investigation Team is handling all three cases now.
He's been sent to 14 days of judicial custody in the third case, while the High Court is set to review his bail plea in the first case on January 21.