"Severe sexual perversion, not actions of a healthy mind": Kerala CM Vijayan on Rahul Mamkootathil expulsion from Congress

Kochi (Kerala) [India], December 5 : Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday slammed the Congress for shielding expelled Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil despite knowing of his alleged "severe sexual perversion" and shocking rape allegations. Calling the delayed expulsion a disgrace to the party's legacy, Vijayan questioned why a leader with such horrifying evidence was once projected as Congress's "future investment."
Addressing the media, CM Vijayan questioned the party's standards of conduct, stating, "How can anyone claim this to be exemplary conduct? In cases of such serious offences, those who have served time in jail are not kept close, but that is not what happened here. Were such individuals expelled from the party? Even now, some of the MLAs in the Congress party have spent time in jail. Were they removed from the party? Why did society have no choice but to respond so strongly in Rahul's case? The information that emerged, how disturbing and horrifying was it? Are these things anyone could normally expect?"
The Kerala CM further added that the revelations were shocking and pointed to severe sexual perversion.
"I do not intend to repeat every detail now, all of you are already aware. The revelations were shocking enough to shake the conscience of any humane person. These were not the actions of a healthy mind, but of someone with a severe sexual perversion. Can such a person be called a public worker? Can such a person belong in public life? A political leader facing such allegations should have been removed from public activities the moment the information emerged," he said.
He noted that several Congress MLAs with serious cases, including sexual offences, remain in the party, while outrage grew in Mamkootathil's case only because the evidence was "disturbing and horrifying."
"When the first reports surfaced, wasn't it said that the leadership already knew about these matters long ago? After knowing all that, was it necessary to present him as a 'future investment'? Shouldn't that be examined seriously? Shouldn't those responsible reflect on that? Can any party ordinarily justify such actions? Shouldn't every party always keep such individuals at a distance? Congress is a great party with a great legacy, but is it right to drag that legacy through the mud? Isn't this something they must seriously reflect on?," Kerala CM said during the press conference.
The Thiruvananthapuram Principal Sessions Court has also rejected Mamkootathil's request for anticipatory bail in the alleged rape case.
Earlier, the police registered a case against MLA Rahul Mamkootathil based on a woman's complaint alleging sexual assault, rape on the pretext of marriage and forced abortion.
The FIR, initially lodged at the Nedumangad Valiyamala Police Station, was later transferred to the Nemom Police Station as the alleged incidents occurred within its jurisdiction.
The case has been registered under eight non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, including Section 64 for rape, Section 64(2) for repeatedly committing rape on the same woman, Section 64(f) for rape by a person in a position of trust, Section 64(h) for rape on a woman knowing she is pregnant, and Section 64(m) for repeated rape on the same woman.
It also includes Section 89 of the BNS for causing miscarriage without a woman's consent, BNS 316 for criminal breach of trust, and Section 68(e) of the Information Technology Act relating to transmission of offensive digital content.
The offences cumulatively carry punishments ranging from ten years to life imprisonment.