On Monday, September 15, 2025, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) escalated its ongoing street protests against Congress legislator Rahul Mamkootathil, who is currently facing serious accusations of sexual misconduct.
A group of SFI activists dramatically blocked Mr. Mamkootathil’s vehicle as he attempted to travel from the MLA quarters to the Kerala Legislative Assembly complex. The protesters surrounded his car, sat on the road, and chanted slogans, vehemently demanding his resignation as the Palakkad legislator. Police intervened, arresting the activists and clearing the road to allow Mr. Mamkootathil’s vehicle to pass.
Later, speaking to reporters within the Assembly gates, Mr. Mamkootathil explicitly declined to address questions about the authenticity of audio clips that allegedly connect him to a case involving coercion and threats related to an illegal pregnancy termination. Despite repeated inquiries from journalists, he also refused to comment on the truthfulness of the allegations of inappropriate behavior that have recently come to light.
‘A Victim of Political Witch-hunt’
Instead, Mr. Mamkootathil asserted that he was being targeted by a ‘political witch-hunt’ orchestrated by the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) government. He stated, ‘Rest assured, the Kerala Police Crime Branch, an agency trusted by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, will go to extreme lengths to frame me. I’ve faced arrests and prison as a Congress worker since I was 18, and I remain undeterred.’
Mamkootathil refuted claims that his presence in the Assembly defied the Congress party’s directives. He clarified, ‘While the KPCC has suspended my primary party membership and the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) has temporarily removed me from its rolls, this does not mean I am no longer a Congress worker. I remain loyal to the party.’ He dismissed media reports suggesting that senior leaders had refused to meet him. ‘The media can interpret as they wish,’ he remarked. ‘I have not personally sought meetings with any leader. I am a disciplined Congress worker and understand my position while under suspension from primary membership.’
The Palakkad legislator, however, offered no indication as to whether he would continue attending Assembly sessions or visiting his constituency. During the impromptu press conference, Mr. Mamkootathil encouraged Youth Congress workers, including those active on social media, to continue their ‘just fight against the Pinarayi government.’ He also drew attention to several publicly reported incidents of police brutality. He concluded by expressing solidarity with Kerala Students Union (KSU) members protesting the arrest and handcuffing of their colleagues by the State police in Thrissur, urging them to ‘Fight on.’