Thiruvananthapuram: Three days after the Kerala Police booked Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil for alleged rape and coerced termination of a being pregnant, police have widened the probe and booked extra Congress leaders for insulting the survivor and revealing particulars about her identification on social media.

The controversy comes because the state is ready to vote for native physique polls on 9 and 11 December. The election is especially essential for the Congress, which has been within the state’s opposition since 2016. The social gathering’s marketing campaign has largely centered on allegations of corruption in opposition to the ruling Left entrance and the Sabarimala gold theft case. 

All these booked had allegedly been posting statements on social media for the previous few days defending Palakkad MLA Mamkootathil.

Varier stated the “false case” in opposition to him was politically motivated. “I’ve by no means as soon as revealed the identification of the complainant. I’ll legally face this false case filed in opposition to me as a result of others misused a photograph I posted a yr in the past after I attended her marriage ceremony. I’ll method the Honorable Judiciary at this time itself for justice,” he wrote in a Fb publish.

He added that the Pinarayi Vijayan authorities was making an attempt to divert consideration from points, together with the Sabarimala gold-cladding controversy.

ThePrint reached Varier for remark by way of calls, however his cellphone was switched off. This report will probably be up to date if and when he responds.

Chief of Opposition V.D. Satheesan stated Monday the social gathering wouldn’t assist anybody accused of wrongdoing. “Let the regulation take its personal course. Whoever does unsuitable, the social gathering isn’t going to assist it,” Satheesan advised the media in Kollam.

The transfer comes days after a lady met Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and submitted a criticism alleging she had been sexually assaulted by the Palakkad MLA and compelled to terminate a being pregnant.

It was the primary official criticism in opposition to the Congress MLA. Quickly after this, the Valiyamala police station in Thiruvananthapuram started a probe.  

The Congress MLA, who was actively campaigning for native physique polls in Palakkad final week, has been absconding for the reason that registration of the case. 

He denied the allegations in an anticipatory bail software filed on Friday, saying they have been politically motivated.

The Congress social gathering in August suspended the Palakkad MLA from the social gathering’s major membership after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in opposition to him on social media. Mamkootathil resigned from his publish because the social gathering’s Youth Congress president then.

The problem has additionally created a divide within the Congress as many social gathering functionaries and supporters are attacking its senior management, together with Lok Sabha MP Rajmohan Unnithan, for talking in opposition to Mamkootathil on social media. 

Satheesan additionally confronted barbs on social media following Rahul’s suspension from the social gathering.

(Edited by Sugita Katyal)

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Additionally Learn: Rahul Mamkootathil—Congress’s younger widespread face in eye of a storm amid sexual misconduct backlash

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