Kerala Congress MLA booked for rape, party wants fair probe

A Congress MLA has been booked allegedly for raping a 51-year-old woman and driving her to attempt suicide last week by consistently harassing her, the police said today.
A case of rape, abetment of suicide and stalking was lodged against Congress MLA M Vincent of Kovalam assembly segment last night on the statement of the woman who had tried to end her life last week at Balaramapuram near here, the police said.
The Congress party state leadership today demanded a 'transparent' and 'impartial' probe into the matter.
The office of state assembly Speaker said the police have written 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 today, 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.