Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 11: The Congress on Sunday distanced itself from MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who was arrested in a sexual assault case, stating that he had been expelled from the party long ago.
Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan said the party removed the Palakkad MLA after realising his alleged wrongdoing.
“After that, he is no longer our responsibility, and the party is not answerable for anything,” he said.
Referring to Mamkootathil’s ousting, Muraleedharan said the party had used its “Brahmastra” at the right time and therefore bore no responsibility now.
Asked about Mamkootathil having been elected as an MLA on a Congress ticket, Muraleedharan reiterated that the party expelled him after finding fault on his part.
“Whatever walls he may have climbed later, what does that have to do with us? We did what was required. We found that he was not fit to be with us,” he said.
He said further action against Mamkootathil should be taken by the government and the police.
On Mamkootathil continuing as an MLA, Muraleedharan said he should have resigned long ago.
Mamkootathil was arrested in connection with a sexual assault case after being taken into custody from Palakkad in on Sunday, police sources said. He was shifted to a police camp here in the morning, they added.
According to police, a third sexual assault case was recently registered against the Palakkad MLA following a complaint lodged by a native of Kottayam district on January 8. (PTI)
