Day after actor Rini Ann George alleged politician invited her to hotel room, Rahul Mamkootathil, rising star of Kerala Congress, quits post

Actor Rini Ann George had on Wednesday alleged that she had an unpleasant experience with a young politician, who is active on TV channels and at the forefront of agitations. She alleged that the politician, whom she had befriended through social media, had sent her obscene messages and invited her to a hotel room. She claimed that several other women, including those in Congress, had similar experiences.

She refused to disclose the name of the politician, but speculation was rife that it was Youth Congress state president and legislator Rahul Mamkootathil. Mamkootathil, who won the byelection in Palakkad assembly seat last year, did not respond to the allegations initially.

However, senior Congress legislator and Opposition leader V D Satheesan told the media, “The party will examine the allegation and take stern action without considering the stature of the leader. If any Congress leader is involved in the alleged incident, the party will take stringent action. I will take the initiative in this regard. We have got a serious complaint only now. There was no delay in taking the action.”

As pressure mounted, Rahul had to step down as Youth Congress state president. Addressing the media in Pathanamthitta, Rahul said, “I respect the legal system in the country. She is my close friend and she had not named me in the allegation. She is still my close friend, and I believe that the allegation was not against me. Certain media houses had come out with the allegation at a time the CPI(M) government is facing various allegations.”

The allegations put the Congress in a spot since the party had mounted an attack on the CPI(M) for allegedly protecting leaders whose names had allegedly figured in sex scandals. When CPI(M) leader P K Sasi faced allegations of misconduct from a party colleague, and his party stood by him, the Congress had alleged that the CPI(M) was “suppressing complaints against party leaders and appointing party leaders as judges in such complaints”.