Overview
- Thiruvananthapuram sessions court granted anticipatory bail in the second rape case on December 10 with strict terms including weekly appearance, cooperation, passport surrender, sureties and a ₹1 lakh bond.
- The state and police have petitioned the Kerala High Court to cancel the bail, arguing custody is needed to protect evidence and witnesses and to prevent interference with the probe.
- Kerala Police consolidated both investigations under a single Crime Branch team led by AIG G. Poonguzhali, with investigators relying on victim statements and digital records given the delay in reporting.
- After two weeks out of public view, Mamkootathil appeared in Palakkad to cast his vote, while he remains under interim High Court protection in the first case until a hearing on December 15.
- Congress has expelled him, and party leaders publicly differed on the second complaint, with the KPCC chief questioning its origins and the Opposition leader urging a full inquiry without prejudging delays.