By Sharanya Gopinathan

On Wednesday afternoon, a woman from Balaramapuram, Kerala attempted suicide by overdosing on blood pressure tablets. She was admitted to a hospital in Neyyatinkara. She allegedly attempted suicide after Congress MLA M Vincent sexually harassed her.

M Vincent was booked two days ago on charges of abetment to suicide. Now, after hearing the woman’s statements, police have also booked Vincent on charges of rape and stalking. Police sought specific permission from the Assembly Speaker to question him, and he can only be called in for questioning after this permission is granted (which is a pretty sorry state of affairs, and a rule that could really potentially be misused in the future).

The 51-year-old woman’s husband says in a police statement that Vincent also used to call her repeatedly, even after he warned him against doing so and complained to Vincent’s wife about the harassment. Vincent, of course, says that he’s innocent, and alleges that this is all a criminal conspiracy against him.

It’s always extra depressing to discover instances of ministers engaging in criminal and misogynistic behaviour, because it reminds you that the country is in the worst hands, but maybe it’s silly of us to be shocked, if we still are. As a recent report in the Times of India revealed, of all the members of the Electoral College voting in the recent presidential elections, 33 percent had admitted to having criminal cases against them. 77 percent were crorepatis, while only nine percent of those eligible to vote were women.