Kerala HC stays Thiruvalla court order directing Rahul Mamkootathil to disclose phone passcode
The Kerala High Court stayed a lower court's order requiring MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to reveal the passcode to his seized phone.Summary
The Kerala High Court has temporarily halted a Thiruvalla court’s order that compelled Palakkad MLA Rahul Mamkootathil to disclose the passcode for his mobile phone. The phone was seized during an investigation into a third rape case filed against him. The forensic laboratory reported that the phones were passcode-protected and data was inaccessible without the passcodes, prompting the prosecution to seek a court order for their disclosure.
Mamkootathil argued that revealing the passcodes would violate his right to privacy, as recognized by the Supreme Court. The Magistrate Court initially sided with the prosecution, stating the passcodes were needed for a fair investigation. However, the High Court granted an interim stay after hearing arguments from his legal team.
The case stems from a complaint filed by an NRI woman alleging rape by Mamkootathil in a Thiruvalla hotel room in 2024, resulting in a pregnancy and subsequent miscarriage. Mamkootathil was initially arrested and denied bail due to concerns about influencing witnesses, but was later granted bail by the Pathanamthitta District and Sessions Court.
(Source：Malayala Manorama)