Arrested for rape, Kerala Congress MLA Vincent says he is being framed by CPI (M)

Congress MLA M. Vincent, arrested on charges of raping and stalking a 51-year-old woman in Kerala, on Tuesday said he was framed by CPI-M leaders.

"The CPI-M Thiruvananthapuram District Secretary and the Neyyattinkara CPI-M legislator are behind this frame-up," Vincent told reporters after he was sent to a day's police custody by a court in Thiruvananthapuram.



His bail plea would be heard on Wednesday.



"The conspiracy was hatched by these people and the former was in the hospital late in the night where the lady was hospitalised. The CCTV will reveal the truth. I have done no wrong at all," he said.



The Congress and its United Democratic Front have extended support to the legislator on Tuesday saying he was a victim of political vendetta and blamed the office of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan for acting in undue haste

.

"This is a politically motivated case and the UDF has decided that there is no reason for him to resign as a legislator," UDF Convener P.P. Thankachan told reporters after a meeting with Congress leaders.



Vincent was arrested on Saturday and remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.

The police on Tuesday demanded five days' custody to question him and to collect evidence. The woman he had allegedly raped attempted suicide.



This is the first time a legislator in Kerala has been arrested for rape.