Kerala Congress' expelled legislator gets reprieve in second rape case

A Kerala court has granted pre-arrest bail to expelled Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil in a second sexual assault case, offering temporary relief as investigations continue.

- Ashraf Padanna

The district and sessions court in the state capital directed the legislator to appear before a team of officers investigating the charges against him every Monday.

The decision followed a two-day delay on his anticipatory bail plea, with the investigation team advised not to take coercive measures until the formal ruling.

The judge, S Nazeera, directed the 36-year-old bachelor to surrender his passport, not speak about the case in public, and not reveal the identities of the complainants.