Kochi | The Kerala High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection from arrest, granted to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a case relating to the alleged rape of a woman and forcing her to abort pregnancy.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas extended the interim protection till January 7, 2026 when Mamkootathil's petition challenging the Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Court denying him anticipatory bail will be taken up again.

The High Court on December 15 had extended the protection till December 18. Prior to that, on December 6, the High Court had protected the MLA from arrest till December 15.

Mamkootathil has claimed in his plea that he was innocent and his custodial interrogation was not required.

He has also contended that the relationship between him and the complainant was consensual, and when it became strained, a complaint was lodged against him.

Mamkootathil, who had gone into hiding after the police registered the first case of sexual assault and forced abortion against him, returned after the High Court granted him interim relief on December 6.

He appeared in Palakkad to cast his vote in the local body elections on December 11