Sexual assault case: Kerala Police arrests Congress MLA M Vincent; CM assures justice to victim

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday assured the alleged victim in the sexual assault case, wherein Congress MLA M Vincent case has been arrested, will get justice. 

"Strong action will be taken on atrocities against women. Miscreants will be brought to justice, no matter who they are," Kerala CM said a few hours after the Congress MLA's arrest. 

CM Vijayan also expressed solidarity with women who dare sjhow courage to speak against attrocities in the State, "It is a good sign that women in the State have come to a conviction that the Govt, will stand by them."

This is due to pressure from CM's office, my fight to prove innocence starts here: M Vincent, Kerala Cong MLA arrested on rape charges pic.twitter.com/RF32GsSQJh

— ANI (@ANI_news) July 22, 2017

Congress MLA M Vincent was on Saturday arrested by the Kerala Police on the charges of the alleged sexual assault of a 51-year-old woman and driving her to attempt suicide last week by consistently harassing her. 

A case of rape, abetment of suicide and stalking was lodged against Congress MLA M Vincent of Kovalam assembly segment on Thursday night on the statement of the woman who had tried to end her life last week at Balaramapuram near state capital, the police said.

On Friday, the Congress party state leadership demanded a ‘transparent’ and ‘impartial’ probe into the matter. The office of state assembly Speaker said the police wrote to Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan informing him that a rape case has been registered against Vincent and his statement would be taken.

The witnesses’ statements have been taken and the victim’s medical examination was also conducted on Saturday, the police sources said.

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters here that he hoped an ‘impartial’ and ‘transparent’ probe would be conducted. Leader of the Opposition Ramesh Chennithala said Vincent is prepared for any probe.

“Let the inquiry go on. It should be transparent,” he said.

Vincent, a first-time MLA, however, alleged that there was a “political conspiracy” behind the allegation against him and filed a complaint with police, demanding a comprehensive probe into the matter.

He 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.

The police had on Wednesday registered an abetment of suicide case against Vincent after the woman’s husband filed a complaint with police, alleging that the MLA used to repeatedly call her over the phone and harass her.

The city magistrate also recorded her statement at a hospital in Neyyatinkara, where she is undergoing treatment.