Vedan, Kerala rapper and songwriter, granted bail in leopard tooth pendant case: Reports

Dubai: Kerala rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, has been granted bail in the tiger tooth possession case by the Perumbavoor First Class Judicial Magistrate Court, according to a report in Malayalam Manorama.

The arrest was made after forensic tests confirmed that a pendant worn by the rapper contained a real leapord tooth, a violation under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Vedan claimed he had received the pendant as a gift from a fan and was unaware it contained a protected wildlife part.

The court granted bail on strict conditions, including the execution of Rs50,000 (Dh2,200) bond with two solvent sureties, the surrender of his passport within seven days, and weekly appearances before the investigating officer.

The tiger tooth arrest came just days after Vedan was taken into custody in a separate narcotics case, in which he and eight others were booked for the possession of six grams of ganja during a raid in Kochi.

The rapper was later released on station bail for that narcotics case.

The two arrests have sparked public debate, with officials defending the enforcement of wildlife laws, while cultural figures and fans have expressed concern over the treatment of artists.

Kerala Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran also weighed in, calling for transparency and proportionality in the legal process.

Post-release, Vedan issued a video message on social media, expressing remorse for past mistakes and stating his intent to become a better person. He refrained from commenting on the ongoing legal matters but thanked his supporters for standing by him.