Thiruvananthapuram | A court here on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a second sexual assault case against him, stating that there was "no prima facie material to show the alleged offence" committed by him.

Thiruvananthapuram Principal District and Sessions Judge Nazeera S said it would be "a travesty of justice" if the MLA were implicated in the crime "without prima facie material".

"This court is of the view that in the absence of any prima facie material linking the accused (Mamkootathil) to the alleged offence, and considering the long delay and other facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case for pre-arrest bail," the judge said.

The court noted that the alleged incident dates back to September 2023, but the woman lodged her complaint with Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief only on December 2, 2025.

It was observed that the initial complaint was submitted to the KPCC chief rather than the police, and a request was made that the accused be barred from holding any role involving public engagement, especially with women and children.

The court also highlighted discrepancies in the timing and reasons given for the delay, which extended to almost two years. Even after the complaint was forwarded to the police by the KPCC chief, there was "considerable delay in setting the law in motion," the judge noted, taking a skeptical view of the allegations.

The court said statements indicated that the accused had consistently expressed no intention of marrying anyone, including the complainant, at the time she had sought clarification on his commitment.

Subsequent interactions between the accused and the complainant also raised the possibility that the complaint may have been filed under pressure.

"There is nothing in the prosecution records to substantiate the allegation against the petitioner," the court said.

Granting anticipatory bail, the court directed that in the event of arrest, Mamkootathil shall be released on bail on executing a bond of Rs 50,000 with two solvent sureties of the same amount each, to the satisfaction of the arresting or investigating officer.

The MLA was further directed to appear before the investigating officer between 10 am and 11 am on Mondays once every two weeks for three months or until the final report is filed, whichever is earlier, and also as and when required.

He was prohibited from contacting, influencing, or intimidating the complainant or any prosecution witnesses, and from tampering with evidence.

The court clarified that even while on anticipatory bail, Mamkootathil shall be deemed in custody for the purposes of effecting any recovery.

In his plea, filed through advocate Ajithkumar (Sasthamangalam), Mamkootathil had claimed that the complaint was delayed, politically motivated, sent to the KPCC chief rather than the police, and lacked evidence to prove the offences alleged.

Mamkootathil had already obtained interim protection from arrest from the Kerala High Court in the first case of sexual assault and forced abortion.

The Palakkad MLA has been absconding since the registration of the first case.

He was expelled from the party on December 4 following the second complaint and the earlier rejection of his anticipatory bail plea by a sessions court.