Thiruvananthapuram, Dec. 12 -- The Congress top leadership in Kerala took ambivalent positions on the second rape complaint against Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil with the KPCC chief hinting that it is 'politically motivated'. At the same time, the Leader of the Opposition denied it.

Mamkootathil, expelled from the Congress last week and still absconding, faces charges of raping a 23-year-old woman under the pretext of marriage and causing grievous physical injuries. On Wednesday, a sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram granted the MLA anticipatory bail, noting that the prosecution failed to produce any incriminating prima facie evidence of rape against the accused.

On Thursday, KPCC chief Sunny Joseph, after casting his vote in the ong...