THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The police have decided to invoke rape and stalking charges against Congress MLA M Vincent representing Kovalam on a woman’s suicide attempt case. Kollam City Police Commissioner S Ajeetha Begum, who leads the investigation, said IPC Sections, 376 and 354(d) would be invoked against the legislator. She said this after recording the statement of the 51-year-old woman on Thursday.
Begum told reporters the woman’s statement gave scope for invoking rape and stalking charges. The FIR will be corrected accordingly and a report would be filed before the court, she said. The police will decide whether or not to record the statement of the MLA only after conducting a medical examination of the complainant. It will be done after she recovers from the treatment for poisoning.
Meanwhile, an audio clip, alleged to be a recorded telephonic conversation between Vincent and the complainant’s brother was leaked to the media. The voice claimed to be of Vincent speaking about settling the case. Begum said the police will conduct a forensic examination of the audio clip and mobile phone of the complainant.
A police case was registered against Vincent on Wednesday following the suicide attempt of a woman in his neighbourhood. The woman consumed sleeping pills in excess on Wednesday afternoon and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Neyyattinkara.The case was registered on the basis of a complaint by her husband. In the complaint, she accused the legislator of sexual harassment over the phone.