Investigation Tightens Around MLA Rahul Mankootathil in Assault and Forced Abortion Case

Thiruvananthapuram: Police have intensified their investigation into Palakkad MLA Rahul Mankootathil, accused of brutally sexually assaulting a young woman and forcing her to undergo an unlawful abortion. After the woman filed her complaint, Rahul went into hiding and has reportedly switched off his phone. He is believed to have disappeared during the UDF campaign in Palakkad for the local body elections.

Rahul’s anticipatory bail petition is scheduled for consideration on Wednesday. He is the first accused in the case, while the second accused is Joby Joseph of Adoor in Pathanamthitta, a close friend who allegedly procured the abortion pills. Rahul has been charged with rape — an offense that could lead to life imprisonment.

Notably, arguments presented in Rahul’s own anticipatory bail plea appear damaging to his defense. The petition acknowledges that he had multiple sexual encounters with the survivor and that the woman had recorded and preserved their phone conversations and chat messages. This undermines the claims circulated earlier that the audio clips were AI-generated and not genuine.

The bail plea further argues that the pregnancy resulted from the woman’s relationship with her former husband. However, the survivor’s own statement indicates that her friendship with Rahul began five months after she ended her marriage, and that she was coerced into a sexual relationship on the assurance of marriage. Rahul must also explain how the abortion pills were delivered via Joby Joseph. Any claim that they were provided merely out of “friendship” is unlikely to withstand legal scrutiny.

Evidence presented includes voice recordings in which Rahul allegedly threatens and pressures her to take the abortion medication. He also reportedly verified via video call that the pills had been consumed. In another WhatsApp conversation, Rahul is seen stating, “I wanna make you pregnant. I want our baby.” Audio of him pressuring the woman to terminate the pregnancy has also surfaced.

Possession of abortion-inducing medication without a doctor’s prescription constitutes a criminal offense. Consequently, the supplier of the pills and any medical professional who may have advised their use could also face prosecution. Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 89, conducting an unscientific abortion can lead to life imprisonment or up to ten years in jail, along with a fine. Furthermore, forcing someone to consume a life-threatening drug is punishable under BNS Section 123 with up to ten years of imprisonment. These provisions also apply to the second accused, Joby Joseph.