Kovalam MLA M. Vincent (file photo)Thiruvananthapuram: Congres leader and legislator M. Vincent, arrested in a rape case, has been remanded to judicial custody. A magistrate court at Neyyatinkara on Saturday remanded the Kovalam MLA to judicial custody in two weeks. He will be lodged in the Neyyatinkara subjail during the remand period.
The Kerala police on Saturday arrested Vincent, against whom rape charges were raised by a 51-year-old woman.
Vincent's arrest was recorded after a five-hour grilling at the MLA hostel here. The MLA was taken to the Peroorkada Police Club after the interrogation.
He was later taken to Neyyatinkara taluk hospital for medical checkup. He will be produced before the magistrate. Kollam city police commissioner Ajitha Beegum, who heads the probe team, will question him.
The police had collected evidence, which proved that the legislator and the victim were in contact over the phone for months.
The speaker's office had earlier informed that the police were free to take any action and that it didn't require speaker's special permission.
A case of rape, abetment to suicide and stalking were lodged against the Kovalam MLA based on the statement of the woman who had tried to end her life last week at Balaramapuram, the police said.
Meanwhile, a telephonic conversation by the MLA to influence a relative of the woman has been leaked.
Vincent has filed a complaint with the DGP, seeking a probe into the conspiracy behind the case 'hatched by the regional CPM leadership'. The MLA had also filed an anticipatory bail plea in Thiruvananthapuram district court.
The woman told the media Saturday that she has been facing severe mental harassment from the legislator and he has misbehaved with her on two different occasions.
Senior women leaders in the Congress party M. Bindu Krishna and Shanimol Usman have asked Vincent to step down as legislator and face the probe.
Meanwhile, angry youth activists of the CPM took to the streets in the state capital and burnt Vincent in effigy.
Leader of opposition and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala said the legislator has told the party that he is innocent and is ready to face any probe.
"Now a free and fair probe is required, and no politics should creep into the probe," said Chennithala.
(With inputs from IANS)
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