Kerala Congress MLA, accused of harassment, threatens to kill pregnant woman for refusing abortion
Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who faces several allegations of sexual misconduct, allegedly forced a woman to undergo an abortion and threatened to kill her in a "few seconds" when she resisted, media reports said.
A viral audio clip of a purported conversation between the MLA from Kerala's Palakkad and the unidentified woman also revealed that the former was worried that the pregnancy would "destroy" his life.
He warned her of "consequences if he got angry".
This comes days after Mamkootathil resigned as the Youth Congress President following a controversy that first broke out after Malayalam actor Rini George accused a youth leader of a prominent political party of misconduct.
While George did not name anyone, the opposition BJP alleged Mamkootathil's role, even as the Congress leader denied the charges.
Following this, writer Honey Bhaskaran and trans woman activist Avanthika accused him of inappropriate behaviour.
The BJP has demanded Mamkootathil's resignation from the state assembly.
The viral audio clip, whose authenticity could not be verified, begins with the woman asking Mamkootathil, "what do you mean you want to get rid of me without my permission?"
To this, Mamkootathil responds: "It's not because of permission. It's because you don't think about it. You don't know the consequences."
The woman, however, says, "I told you I will face the consequences alone."
"You can't face it alone. I don't know the consequences when I get angry," the Congress leader says.
At one point, Mamkootathil tells the woman that the pregnancy would "destroy" his life and is even heard saying: "To kill you, what do you think, I just need a few seconds."
He also says, "I have spoken to you very calmly. Till this moment, I haven't called you a bad word. Don't think that you were with me. You are a woman. Is this your ideal in life? I will never do anything wrong to you."
The Congress leader also asks the woman what she will do if she delivers a baby. "I will not leave it," he says.
In response, the woman says, "I won't bring it (to you). I am sure that you will kill it."
She also said that she is capable of taking care of her child. "I can raise that child well. I don't need your help."
Mamkootathil then told the woman: "What are you saying? You are making me crazy."
There was no immediate reaction from Mamkootathil or the Congress party on the purported audio clip.
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