Kerala Congress MLA Vincent Arrested on Rape, Stalking Charges

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Congress MLA M Vincent was on Saturday arrested on charges of rape and stalking after a 51-year-old woman tried to commit suicide, alleging "sexual harassment" by him.

The woman's husband had alleged that Vincent's conversation with his wife abetted her to take the extreme step. After registering a case of abetment to suicide against the MLA, the police took woman's statement and booked Vincent under sections pertaining to rape and stalking, too.

Vincent denied the charge and said it was a political conspiracy of CPI(M). “The police has made the arrest due to pressure from the CM’s office,” he said.

Vincent was produced in Neyyattinkara court and was sent to 14 days’ judicial custody.

Police had informed the Speaker of the Assembly and then questioned the MLA. After a few hours of questioning, Vincent was arrested.

Supporters of the MLA protested outside the Neyyattinkara DSP’s office and outside the court. They raised slogans and claimed the police is acting at the behest of the CPI (M). Some of them even pelted stones and claimed that the woman is suffering from anxiety and depression.

According to police, the incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when the woman allegedly consumed excess sleeping pills, following which she had to be rushed to a private hospital.

Her husband had also alleged that Vincent had been harassing his wife over the phone for the past several months.

The MLA has, since the very beginning, maintained that it was all hogwash and a "political conspiracy" against him. He had also demanded a detailed probe into the allegations levelled against him.

He had claimed that a CPI (M) local leader was present at the woman's house when she attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills. Her brother is also a Marxist activist.