Expelled Congress strongman Rahul Mamkootathil hit rock bottom when a Kerala court rejected his urgent bail petition today. Accused of orchestrating mayhem during anti-liquor agitations, the Wayanad MLA’s bid for temporary relief crumbled under judicial scrutiny.
The protests erupted as a backlash to perceived laxity in booze regulations, with Mamkootathil rallying Youth Congress cadres. What followed was pandemonium: torched outlets, shattered glass, and skirmishes with law enforcement. Arrested promptly, he was shown the door by party bosses wary of the optics.
Bail arguments painted a stark picture—defenders cried foul on selective targeting, while the state paraded videos of Mamkootathil exhorting the crowd. The court, invoking stringent laws, deemed custody essential to deter copycat violence and ensure witness safety. ‘No room for leniency in such grave matters,’ it declared.
Reactions split along predictable lines. Congress veterans lamented a ‘dark chapter for democracy,’ as LDF mouthpiece hailed law’s triumph. In Wayanad, Mamkootathil’s bastion, tempers flare with candlelight vigils demanding his release.
This chapter in Kerala’s tumult over prohibition debates raises larger queries on protest boundaries and political retribution. With appeals on the horizon, Mamkootathil’s fight is far from over, but today’s loss etches a pivotal moment in his turbulent journey from party favorite to jailbird.