Rape case: Police to examine Kerala MLA Rahul Mamkootathil’s phones for evidence after he declines to share passwords

The special investigation team (SIT) probing the rape complaints against Palakkad MLA and former Youth Congress State president Rahul Mamkootathil will examine his mobile phones as part of efforts to gather scientific evidence.

The police seized Mr. Mamkootathil’s mobile phones from his hotel room in Palakkad, where he was arrested and taken to Pathanamthitta around midnight on Saturday.

The MLA had previously evaded arrest in two cases filed by different women. However, acting on a fresh complaint by a woman now residing in Canada, the police took him into custody on Saturday midnight without giving him any opportunity to seek anticipatory bail.

Police sources said it was unclear whether Mr. Mamkootathil would be brought to Palakkad for the verification process. He has reportedly refused to share the passwords to the mobile phones seized by the police.

The police may seek the assistance of experts to unlock the phones and examine the data, which they believe could help strengthen the case. However, Mr. Mamkootathil has refused to share the passwords, claiming that the police could tamper with the data and thereby deprive him of crucial evidence in his defence.