THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The District Sessions Court here on Monday dismissed the bail plea of Kovalam MLA M Vincent, who is under judicial custody for allegedly raping and stalking a woman. The judge dismissed the bail plea accepting the prosecution plea the accused is a powerful person and could influence witnesses and the alleged victim if he is granted bail. Dismissing the plea, the judge observed the accusations against the petitioner, who is not less than an MLA, are very grave. It cannot be believed that an ordinary woman dared to make a false accusation against him.
Vincent, whose bail plea was earlier rejected by the Neyanttinakara magistrate court, stated in his application that the case was politically motivated and intended to insult him. The judge also mentioned the complainant faced attack from the followers of the MLA many times after she got discharged from the hospital. The police have registered five cases in this regard. The prosecution had argued the investigation was still in a nascent stage. The sworn statement of the complainant is yet to be recorded by the local magistrate and if the accused is released on bail, he might influence the statement of the woman through intimidation tactics, the prosecution said.