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Sexual assault case: Court reserves order on Cong MLA Mamkootathil’s anticipatory bail plea

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Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 3: A court on Wednesday reserved order on the anticipatory bail plea of Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, accused of raping and coercing a woman into an unsafe abortion.

After a 90-minute closed-door hearing, the Court said that since a maze of documents has to be perused, the orders will come accordingly.

Before the start of the hearing, the court cleared the room, reflecting the sensitivity of the case that triggered a major political storm in the state.

Mamkootathil’s counsel argued that the complaint was “motivated and aimed at destroying his political career”, alleging a conspiracy involving the CPI(M) and BJP.

He maintained that the relationship had been consensual and claimed the pregnancy was not related to him.

The defence further argued that the woman herself opted for an abortion. It was also pointed out that this case is being used to divert public attention from the Sabarimala gold smuggling controversy.

The court, after listening to both sides, reserved its order and directed the prosecution to file one more supporting document.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team has submitted a detailed report to the court, reportedly containing grave findings.

According to the report, the woman was raped multiple times and was threatened into undergoing an abortion.

Investigators say they have evidence to support allegations of sexual assault and coercion.

The prosecution argued strongly against granting bail, highlighting Mamkootathil’s influence as a public representative.

If released, they warned, he could intimidate the complainant or destroy crucial evidence.

For Mamkootathil, the case has become politically existential.

A court order against him could result in expulsion from his party, for which a majority in the party have gone on record tasking the party’s top brass to ensure that he is expelled.

In August, when this case first surfaced, the party stripped him of the post of Youth Congress president and suspended him from the party.

Even as the case tightens around him, the police have yet to trace the legislator, who, they say, is absconding in Bengaluru, seven days after the complaint was filed.

In her confidential deposition before the Neyyattinkara JFCM court, the woman detailed multiple instances of rape, twice in a Thiruvananthapuram flat and later in Palakkad.

She alleged that Rahul recorded videos of the assaults, used them to threaten her, and repeatedly intimidated her over the phone.

According to the prosecution, Mamkootathil’s friend Joby Joseph delivered the abortion pill and has been named a co-accused.

Crime

Accused carrying Rs 25,000 bounty arrested after encounter in UP’s Firozabad

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Firozabad, Sep 12: Police in Uttar Pradesh’s Firozabad have arrested an accused, carrying a bounty of Rs. 25,000, following an encounter, officials said on Saturday.

The accused has been identified as Sunny, alias Saniya. Police said that more than a dozen criminal cases are registered against him.

SP (City) Santosh Kumar Singh said that on August 31, the accused had asked for a lift from a man. While riding pillion after securing the lift, he allegedly stole Rs. 30,000 by picking the victim’s pocket. The victim had later filed a case.

The exchange of fire took place between the police and the accused after the suspect realised he was being cornered during a routine check.

According to an official statement, the operation involved a team of the Rasulpur Police Station and the Special Operations Group.

Sunny sustained a gunshot wound to his leg during the encounter.

A country-made pistol, ammunition, and Rs. 10,520 in cash were recovered from his possession.

In a similar case reported last month following an encounter, police in UP’s Hapur arrested a criminal carrying a reward of Rs 25,000 in connection with the murder of a man. Weapons, ammunition and a car used in the crime were recovered from the accused.

Officials said that during a checking operation by the Hapur Dehat police, the main accused in the Gaurav Tyagi murder case was injured in retaliatory police firing. The accused, identified as Pradeep, son of Rajbir, who was carrying a bounty of Rs 25,000, was arrested and admitted to a hospital for treatment.

According to the police, Pradeep, a resident of Mohammadpur Azampur village under the Babugarh police station area, was wanted in connection with the murder of Gaurav Tyagi on August 18 over an old land dispute. Police alleged that Pradeep, along with his brothers and other associates, brutally murdered Gaurav Tyagi, a resident of the same village, by attacking him with hammers and iron rods.

A case was registered at the Hapur Dehat police station under several relevant Sections of the IPC.

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Crime

Rajasthan Police arrest man from UP’s Faizabad in Rs 3.81 crore online trading fraud

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Jaipur, Sep 12: Acting on the directives of Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Kumar Sharma to prevent cybercrimes and take effective action against cybercriminals, the Rajasthan Police Cyber Crime Branch has arrested a man from Faizabad (Ayodhya), Uttar Pradesh, in connection with a multi-crore online trading fraud.

The arrest was made by the Central Cyber Crime Police Station, Jaipur.

The accused has been identified as Alok, a resident of Faizabad (Ayodhya), Uttar Pradesh.

DGP (Cyber Crime) VK Singh said that, according to a complaint filed on October 5, 2025, the complainant had been searching on Google for information related to online trading and investment. During the search, the complainant came across an online trading platform called ‘CMC Forex’ / ‘CMC Global CS’.

The accused allegedly contacted the complainant through Telegram while posing as representatives of the company’s India-based customer care or management team. They lured the complainant with promises of high returns from online trading and induced him to transfer a total of Rs 3,81,37,677 into various bank accounts.

During the investigation, police found that the cyber fraudsters had created a website and fake online trading platform resembling ‘CMC’, a reputed foreign trading company. The accused allegedly claimed to be associated with the company’s India-based customer care and management teams. They continuously provided trading-related instructions to the complainant through Telegram and encouraged him to invest in different companies. Initially, to gain the complainant’s confidence, a portion of the money invested in small amounts was returned.

This convinced the complainant that the platform was genuine and prompted him to invest larger sums. The accused allegedly directed the complainant to deposit money into multiple bank accounts. At the same time, the fake trading account showed steadily increasing profits against the investments. As a result, the complainant was led to believe that profits worth crores of rupees had accumulated in the account. When the complainant attempted to withdraw the money, the cyber fraudsters allegedly demanded additional payments on various pretexts, including income tax, currency exchange fees, security deposits and margin guarantees. Even after each payment, new conditions and charges were allegedly imposed, with the complainant repeatedly pressured to make further deposits. Despite the payments, the crores of rupees displayed in the fake trading account were never actually made available for withdrawal.

During the investigation, police examined bank records and followed the money trail. A beneficiary bank account linked to ‘Shiv Bakers and Fast Food’ was identified.

Police found that Rs 20 lakh of the money allegedly obtained through the fraud had been deposited into this account. Investigators are now tracing the subsequent movement of the money and working to identify other individuals associated with the cyber fraud network. Based on bank records and technical analysis, police identified Alok, a resident of Faizabad (Ayodhya), Uttar Pradesh.

The investigation allegedly established his involvement in connection with the beneficiary bank account used to receive proceeds of the cyber fraud.

According to police, the bank account and financial channels provided by the accused were used to receive the defrauded money and facilitate further transactions.

Alok has been arrested, and further investigation is underway. Police are conducting detailed technical analysis of CDRs, CAFs and IPDRs, along with the money trail from the banking transactions. Investigators are collecting information about the accounts into which the defrauded funds were deposited, the subsequent movement of the money and the identities of other individuals linked to the network.

The operation was conducted by a team constituted under the direction of Shantanu Kumar Singh, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Cyber Crime). The team was led by Gajendra Sharma, Station House Officer (SHO) and Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) at the Central Cyber Crime Police Station, Jaipur, Rajasthan. The team included Police Inspector Radheshyam, Constables Manoj Samota and Krishna Yadav, and Constable-Driver Sube Singh.

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Crime

MMRDA declares airport-adjacent structure illegal; Kirit Somaiya demands immediate demolition

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Mumbai, Sep 10: Tensions have escalated near Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Terminal 2) after the Maharashtra Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) confirmed that a religious structure operating near the high-security zone lacks statutory planning permissions and is unauthorised.

Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kirit Somaiya has alleged a deliberate attempt at unauthorised land occupation — characterising the structure as “Land Jihad” — and has pressed state authorities and site operators to initiate criminal action against the trustees and individuals responsible.

Following complaints regarding unauthorised construction near sensitive airport land, MMRDA verified that no official approvals, building sanctions, or permissions were ever granted for the religious structure.

MMRDA has issued formal notices to Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) directing the immediate removal and demolition of the unauthorised structure to ensure the perimeter remains clear.

Somaiya has formally requested both MMRDA and MIAL to go beyond physical clearance by registering a First Information Report (FIR) against the managing trustees and individuals associated with the illegal construction.

The controversy highlights ongoing scrutiny surrounding unauthorised encroachments adjacent to critical national infrastructure. Officials note that unregulated structures near VIP corridors, taxi parking lanes, and terminal facilities pose significant security hazards.

The matter aligns with previous judicial observations where courts have emphasised that public safety and secure zones near international hubs supersede unauthorised religious claims or structures erected without explicit administrative approvals.

Authorities from MIAL and local police departments are currently reviewing directives provided by MMRDA regarding execution steps and necessary security arrangements during the scheduled clearance drive.

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