THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kovalam legislator M. Vincent, 49, who allegedly raped a woman, 51, was arrested on Saturday. As per the victim’s statement, Mr Vincent, a first-time Congress legislator, had non-consensual sexual relationship with her multiple times in her house near Balaramapuram. The woman who attempted to commit suicide on Wednesday was admitted to a hospital and a magistrate recorded her statement.
A police team headed by Neyyatinkara DySP B. Harikumar interrogated Mr Vincent at MLA quarters from 12.40 pm. Around 3.30 pm, he was taken to the police club at Peroorkada and thereafter to the police headquarters where Kollam district police chief S. Ajeetha Begum questioned him and ordered his arrest. Mr Vincent was brought to Neyyatinkara DySP office before being produced in the court. He was later remanded in judicial custody for 14 days and lodged in Neyyattinkara sub-jail.
His anticipatory bail plea was set aside and this will be considered as a bail plea on Monday, sources said. Mr Vincent assaulted the woman, known to him for years, after her husband approached him with a petition on a matter recently. As per police sources, he made around 900 calls to the victim’s mobile number before being blocked. She had previously revealed the matter to a priest, two nuns and her brother.
Mr Vincent, while being huddled up into the car by the police, told the media that the case was a conspiracy hatched by local CPM leaders in connivance with the woman’s family. On Thursday, an audio clip of the MLA’s conversation with the victim’s brother went viral. He was heard threatening to commit suicide if the matter becomes public.
“This case was the result of a conspiracy hatched by CPM leaders. My legal fight will start from today,” he said. Various political party workers protested in front of Neyyatinkara DySP office. While Congress workers broke flowerpots and vented their anger against the arrest, Yuva Morcha workers, who tried to attack the MLA, hurled eggs at the policemen guarding him.
