Thiruvananthapuram, May 26 (IANS) Former Perumbavoor two-time Congress MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly received major legal relief on Tuesday after the Neyyattinkara court acquitted him in the rape case that had rocked Kerala politics and virtually derailed his immediate political future.

The verdict comes months after the Congress leadership denied the two-time MLA an Assembly election ticket during the April polls, citing the pending criminal case against him.

Though initially upset over the decision, Eldhose later aligned with the party’s stand and actively campaigned for the Congress candidate in Perumbavoor, who eventually won the seat.

With the acquittal now clearing the cloud over him, the Congress leader can finally breathe easy.

Political observers point out that had the verdict come a little earlier, Eldhose himself could have been in the fray in the Assembly elections.

The Neyyattinkara court acquitted Eldhose after four witnesses, including the complainant, turned hostile during the trial.

The case witnessed a dramatic twist on Monday when the complainant changed her earlier statement and informed the court that Eldhose Kunnappilly had not sexually assaulted her.

The case has attracted widespread political attention since allegations surfaced against the Congress leader in 2022.

The Thiruvananthapuram District Crime Branch had filed the charge sheet before the Neyyattinkara Sessions Court in May 2024, invoking serious charges including rape and attempt to murder.

According to the charge sheet, Eldhose had allegedly sexually assaulted the complainant multiple times.

Besides Eldhose, two of his friends were also arraigned as accused in the case.

The charge sheet alleged that they threatened the complainant into withdrawing her complaint.

The case had become a major embarrassment for the Congress leadership at a time when the party was aggressively attacking the then Left government on issues concerning women’s safety and political morality.

The party high command had eventually decided against fielding Eldhose in the Assembly polls despite his efforts to secure renomination from Perumbavoor.

Now that the court has given him a clean chit, the acquittal is expected to revive discussions within Congress circles about his political comeback and future role in the party.

–IANS

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