Thiruvananthapuram, Jan. 8 -- The Kerala High Court on Wednesday extended the interim protection from arrest to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil till Jan 21 and allowed the impleading petition filed by the survivor in the rape and abortion case.

The order was pronounced by Justice A Badharudeen who posted the case for detailed hearing on January 21 after which the decision on the MLA's request for anticipatory bail will be made.

The MLA had moved the HC after his petition for anticipatory bail in the case was rejected by the Principal and Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram last month. Subsequently, the HC granted the legislator interim protection from arrest.

Mamkootathil, expelled from the Congress last year in the wake of multiple c...