The investigation in the rape case registered against Malayalam rapper and song writer Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, is in the preliminary stage and he is yet to be issued notice to appear, said District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya.
Talking to reporters in Kochi on Thursday (August 7, 2025), Mr. Vimaladitya said accusations of financial transactions are also being probed and that relevant sections will be invoked in the event the police get hold of any evidence to substantiate these.
“The petitioner has said that some people were aware about the happenings. We will verify it with the persons concerned and record their statements. Further action will be taken accordingly,” said Mr. Vimaladitya.
The Thrikkakara police registered the case against Vedan after the petitioner, a young doctor, approached the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kochi City) with the complaint that she was sexually abused on the promise of marriage, on July 30. The police registered the case after recording the petitioner’s statement.
The incidents leading to the complaint were found to have taken place a few years ago. The case was registered by the Thrikkakara police after it was mentioned as one of the places where the alleged sexual abuse on the promise of marriage took place.
Reportedly, the petitioner came forward with the complaint after she had came across the account of another woman who had similar experiences with Vedan that she allegedly faced.
Vedan has faced sexual abuse allegations in the past as well during the height of the ‘#MeToo’ movement.
The Hill Palace police in Kochi arrested Vedan along with eight other friends allegedly with six grams of ganja from his apartment near Vyttila in Kochi on April 28, 2025. While he was released on bail in that case, he was immediately arrested by the Forest department after he was found possessing a leopard-tooth pendant. He claimed that it was gifted to him by a fan. He was later released on bail in that case as well.
Since then, he had run-ins with the BJP and Sangh Parivar outfits after a BJP councillor of Palakkad municipality lodged a complaint against Vedan accusing that his music defamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promoted caste divisions.
Published – August 07, 2025 02:31 pm IST
