Kochi, Dec. 16 -- The Kerala High Court on Monday extended interim protection from arrest to Palakkad MLA Rahul Mankoottil in connection with the first rape case registered against him, granting him temporary relief while postponing further hearings.
The court deferred consideration of Mankoottil's anticipatory bail plea to Thursday, citing scheduling constraints ahead of the Christmas vacation. The case is now expected to be taken up after regular court sittings resume in the first week of January.
Earlier, the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court had rejected Mankoottil's plea for anticipatory bail, following which he approached the High Court seeking protection. While issuing interim relief, the High Court made it clear that detailed argu...