Kochi, February 12 The Kerala High Court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to expelled Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil in a case of rape and forced abortion against him. Justice Kauser Edappagath granted the relief to the Palakkad MLA after he challenged a decision by the Thiruvananthapuram Sessions Court denying him anticipatory bail in the case. The detailed order is not yet available. Mamkootathil has been under protection from arrest in this case since December 6, 2023. This was the first case of sexual assault registered against the Palakkad MLA, who is also an accused in two other similar cases. While he was able to get protection from arrest in two of the three cases, he was arrested in the third and spent over two weeks in custody before being granted regular bail.