Fresh sexual assault allegations surface against rapper Vedan

Fresh trouble is brewing for Malayalam rap singer Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, after two more women came forward with sexual assault allegations against him.

The women have approached the Chief Minister’s Office, alleging that they were sexually assaulted by the rapper. A research scholar and an arts student, in separate emails to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, detailed the abuse they allegedly suffered at the hands of Vedan.

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The research scholar, in her complaint, stated that she came into contact with Vedan while working on a paper on Dalit music. She explained that she had sought to connect with a musician from her community while interviewing singers and writers across India as part of her research.

She met Vedan on December 20, 2020. During the meeting, under the pretext of discussing his songs, he allegedly tried to sexually assault her and forcefully kissed her. Though she managed to escape, she said she abandoned her research to avoid further interaction with him.

The arts student, the second complainant, alleged that Vedan initially showed interest in her work and she was drawn to the Dalit politics reflected in his music.

However, she claimed he later began to sexually assault her, using profanities and threatening her if she resisted. When she ended their relationship, he allegedly spread rumours about her within their circle of friends, which affected her studies and opportunities.

These fresh allegations emerge at a time when Vedan’s anticipatory bail plea in another rape case is scheduled to be considered by the High Court on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Kerala High Court on Monday permitted a woman doctor, who accused Vedan of repeatedly sexually assaulting her on the false promise of marriage, to be impleaded as a party in his anticipatory bail plea.

The doctor’s counsel, whose complaint led to a case registered by the Thrikkakara police, informed a Bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas that two other women had also come forward with similar accusations. He urged the court to treat Vedan as a “habitual offender.”

Last month, the Thrikkakara police booked Vedan for allegedly raping the same doctor after making a false promise of marriage.

The complainant stated that she first met him as a fan, but was later coerced into a physical relationship. When he allegedly reneged on his marriage promise, she decided to approach the police.