Kerala Congress MLA charged with rape, is on the run

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The district crime branch probing an abduction and assault case against Perumbavoor MLA, Eldhose Kunnappilly, has filed charges of rape against him after recording the survivor’s statement and submitting a report on the matter before amagistrate court.
The rape charge was added after the woman told the investigating officers that the Congress MLA had raped her on multiple occasions, at various places, after promising to marry her. She also alleged that she was abducted from her house on September 14.
According to her, the MLA assaulted her inside his car under the influence of alcohol and threatened to kill her. The MLA later offered Rs 30 lakh for settling the case, she said. Kunnappilly has been on the run since Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, in a social media post, the MLA said he has not done anything inviolation of law and he would fight the case legally. He moved the sessions court for anticipatory bail on Tuesday and his plea has been posted for hearing on Saturday. Congress has, however, said it would not protect the two-term MLA.
Police also launched a hunt for the MLA’s personal assistant and a female friend based on the survivor’s statement. She said the duo threatened her, asking her to withdraw the complaint, besides offering money to settle the case.