Gathered information says charges against Mamkootathil correct: Ramesh Chennithala

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala on Tuesday said MLA Rahul Mamkootathil was suspended from the primary membership of the party after it was satisfied that the information gathered about his misconduct towards women was correct.

He also said that if Mamkootathil is innocent, he should prove it.

A day after Mamkootathil, facing multiple sexual misconduct allegations, was suspended from the party on Monday, Chennithala said the Congress will not tolerate activities that hurt the dignity of women.

"I don't know whether these allegations are correct or not, but the gathered information said this is correct. That is why we all advocated for strong action," Chennithala, who is abroad, told PTI in a telephonic interview.

The senior leader said there was consensus among the party leaders on the necessity of stringent action against the Palakkad MLA. He said the action was taken after discussions with the leaders in the party high command.

Asked what the way forward is for Mamkootathil, against whom no FIR has been registered, Chennithala said, "If he is innocent, he should prove it. Then we can reconsider the decision which is taken. It is up to him.'

KPCC president Sunny Joseph announced the disciplinary action against Mamkootathil on Monday in Kannur. He, however, rejected political opponents' demand for Mamkootathil's resignation as MLA.

Rahul Mamkootathil recently quit as Youth Congress state president after Malayalam actress Rini Ann George accused "a young leader" of a well-known political party of misbehaviour, leading to subsequent protests by the BJP and DYFI, the youth wing of the CPI M.

Subsequently, several women and a transgender person accused him of similar offences.

He was elected as MLA in November last year in a by-election held for the Palakkad seat, following the election of party leader and then sitting MLA Shafi Parambil as Lok Sabha MP from Vadakara in the general election.