Kerala HC grants anticipatory bail to rapper Vedan in rape case

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted an anticipatory bail to Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known by his stage name Vedan, who had been charged with raping a young woman doctor multiple times under the pretext of marriage.

A single bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas granted anticipatory bail to the rapper observing that his custodial interrogation was not needed, although the charges against him were of serious nature. “There were numerous occasions when they stayed together and had physical relationships…. In such circumstances, denying anticipatory bail to the petitioner would result in serious prejudice,” the court said.

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Vedan was booked for rape by the Thrikkakkara police in Kochi, on July 31, based on a complaint filed by a woman doctor, who alleged that he sexually assaulted her multiple times between August 2021 and March 2023, under the pretext of marriage. She alleged that she met Vedan on social media, and he promised to marry her, after which they engaged in a physical relationship. However, Vedan had said that they were in a consensual relationship and claimed that she filed the complaint after they had some differences of opinion.