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Kerala Congress MLA M Vincent arrested on charges of rape, likely to resign
A special investigative team looking into the rape charges against the Congress legislator grilled him for three hours before arresting him.
Kerala Police on Saturday arrested Congress legislator M Vincent on charges of raping a housewife, two days after a case was registered against him.
The young legislator was arrested after a special investigation team (SIT) grilled him for three hours.
Vincent, who represents the Kovalam constituency, is likely to resign from the assembly while the Congress Party said it would take necessary action against him. The Mahila Congress and ruling CPI(M) had earlier sought his resignation.
Police had initially filed an abetment of suicide case after the woman was taken to a hospital for over dosing on sleeping pills. Rape and assault charges were added after SIT chief Ajeetha Begum recorded her statement at the hospital.
The victim reportedly told police that she had attempted suicide because Vincent was making advances at her, harassing her physically and mentally. A magistrate also recorded her statement at the hospital.
As a part of its investigation, SIT also seized the phone records of the legislator which reportedly showed he made many calls to the victim.
However, the MLA alleged that a local CPI(M) leader was present at the woman’s house when she attempted suicide and that she was brought to the hospital in his car. He said the leader, and her brother – who is also a CPI(M) worker – hatched a conspiracy to implicate him in the case.
