Thiruvananthapuram, May 26: Former Congress MLA Eldhos Kunnappilly has received significant relief as he was acquitted in a rape case. The Neyyattinkara Sessions Court delivered its verdict on Tuesday, clearing him of all charges.
This decision comes after the Congress leadership denied him a ticket for the assembly elections a few months ago, citing pending criminal cases against him.
Kunnappilly has served two terms as the MLA for the Perumbavoor constituency. Initially, he expressed frustration over the party’s decision not to nominate him. However, he later accepted the party’s choice and actively campaigned for the Congress candidate, who ultimately won the Perumbavoor seat.
With the court’s ruling, doubts surrounding the allegations against Kunnappilly have largely dissipated. Political analysts suggest that had this verdict come before the assembly elections, the Congress might have reconsidered his candidacy.
The Neyyattinkara court acquitted Kunnappilly due to insufficient evidence during the hearings. A significant turning point occurred when four key witnesses, including the complainant, retracted their earlier statements. On Monday, the complainant testified in court that Kunnappilly had not sexually assaulted her.
The case emerged in 2022 and has since been a topic of discussion in Kerala’s political landscape. The Thiruvananthapuram District Crime Branch filed a charge sheet in May 2024, accusing Kunnappilly of serious offenses, including attempted rape and murder.
According to the investigating agency, Kunnappilly was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting the complainant. Two of his close friends were also implicated, accused of pressuring the complainant to withdraw her allegations.
This incident placed the Congress party in a challenging position, especially as it was criticizing the state’s leftist government on issues of women’s safety and political ethics at that time. Consequently, the party leadership decided to keep Kunnappilly out of the electoral fray.
Now, following the court’s relief, discussions are likely to intensify regarding Kunnappilly’s political comeback and future role within the Congress party.
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S.A.K./D.K.P.
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