Thiruvananthapuram: The rape case against Congress MLA M Vincent turned murkier on Monday with the sister of the 51-year-old victim defending the MLA and while the victim accusing her sister of attempting to threaten her for complaining against the MLA.
Apart from this, Vincent's wife Subha alleged that the victim woman used to constantly contact the MLA. Subha also said that the victim even spoke to her about her family problems and even said that she may contemplate suicide.
Meanwhile, the police is likely to seek custody of the MLA on Monday for further quizzing and evidence collection. The police would also oppose the bail plea of the MLA citing that he may try to influence the victim and witnesses.
The victim’s sister told a section of media that the victim made the fake allegation against the MLA as he did not get a job for their brother. But the the victim’s brother termed it baseless and countered that political affiliations could be the reason for such stands in favour of the accused. The victim was also learnt to have given a statement to the police that her sister threatened her on lodging a complaint against the MLA.
In a related development, a priest who reportedly gave a statement against the MLA denied it. Father Joy Matyas of St. Sebastian church in Balaramapuram said that the victim earlier spoke to him about her family problems and did not make any complaints about the MLA.
KPCC suspends vincent, rules out resignation
KPCC on Sunday suspended arrested M. Vincent, MLA, from the post of KPCC secretary, a day after he was arrested on charges of sexual harassment.
KPCC President M M Hassan told reporters here that CPM leaders including Neyyathinkara MLA had conspired against Vincent maintaining that there was no need to resign from the post of MLA.
Mr Hassan said the antecedents of the complainant were being questioned by her own sister who voiced suspicion about her state of mental health.
Congress was a party that respected womanhood and that was why the party had decided to suspend him. There was no precedent of an MLA resigning from the post for facing such allegations he said pointing to the cases of A K Saseendran and Jose Thettayil. “The case is in the court and we will wait for the outcome of the case,” said Mr Hassan.
Hassan alleged that police showed undue haste in acting on the complaint and arresting Vincent. This was part of a political conspiracy hatched by the leaders of the party. There is the Vadakancherry case where a CPM councilor was implicated. In that case the police did not do anything. However, in this case within a few hours Vincent was questioned and then was arrested, said Hassan.
Meanwhile, K Muraleedharan MLA who visited Mr Vincent in jail also alleged conspiracy by the CPM with the knowledge of the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Meanwhile, the CPM rubbished the Congress charges that political conspiracy was behind the arrest of Vincent saying that the government acted as per the law.
CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said that the MLA was arrested following the deposition of the victim. “I fail to understand the logic behind the allegations made by Congress leaders that the case is part of political conspiracy. The LDF government is committed to protect women from any atrocity. It would take stern action against persons who indulge in crime against women,” Mr Balakrishnan said.
