Palakkad municipal councillor Prasobh Valsan surrendered before the police on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) after the Kerala High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea in a case relating to the alleged rape of a Dalit woman.Mr. Valsan appeared at the Town police station. The police had accused him of sexually assaulting the woman after allegedly luring her with a promise of employment.The police had intensified their search for Mr. Valsan after the High Court dismissed his bail application. He had approached the High Court after the Special Court for SC/ST cases at Mannarkkad denied him anticipatory bail.Mr. Valsan had been absconding for nearly three months after the case was filed. The survivor alleged in a complaint to the Chief Minister that Mr. Valsan, then a councillor of the Congress, trespassed into her house and raped her. The Palakkad Town South police registered a case against him on the direction of District Police Chief Ajit Kumar.Expelled from CongressFollowing the allegations, the Congress expelled Mr. Valsan from the party. During the Assembly election campaign, Palakkad’s BJP candidate Sobha Surendran had repeatedly raised the issue in her electioneering speeches. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also referred to the case while campaigning in Palakkad. Published - May 27, 2026 08:03 pm IST