In a relief to Malayalam rap singer Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday extended his interim protection from arrest in an alleged rape case.
A single bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas on Wednesday restrained the police from arresting Vedan till August 25, as his bail application is pending before the court On Tuesday, the court said that Vedan should not be arrested since his bail application is being considered by the court. The court on Wednesday extended the protection till the next date of hearing, i.e. August 25.
Vedan has been absconding after the Thrikkakara police booked him in the rape case on the basis of a complaint filed by a young doctor on July 30
Vedan, has been booked for rape on a complaint lodged by a young doctor accusing him of sexually abusing her on the promise of marriage. The Thrikkakara police on July 30 registered a case against the 30-year-old singer, a native of Thrissur, after recording the petitioner’s statement.
According to the police, the complainant befriended Vedan through Instagram in 2021. Later that year, he allegedly visited her residence and sexually assaulted her. When she considered approaching the police, Vedan reportedly promised to marry her, following which he continued to sexually abuse her without consent. In her complaint, the woman alleged that she was raped on five occasions
Since 2023, the accused allegedly began to distance himself from her, which pushed the victim into emotional trauma. Police said she recently gained the courage to come forward with the complaint
Meanwhile, two other women have also filed complaints with the Chief Minister, alleging that Vedan sexually assaulted them in 2020 and 2021. A research scholar and a student of arts have in separate emails written to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan about the alleged sexual abuse they faced from Vedan
The research scholar said in her complaint that she came in contact with Vedan when she began working on a paper on Dalit music. She met Vedan on December 20, 2020. During the meeting, on the pretext of talking about his songs, he allegedly tried to sexually assault her and forcefully kissed her. Though she escaped, she said she had to drop her research, not wanting to get in touch with Vedan again.
The other complainant, the arts student said that Vedan had met her, showing interest in her work, and that she was drawn by the Dalit politics in his music. She alleged that he later began to sexually assault her, spewing profanities and threatening her if she refused. When she broke up with him, he spread rumours about her among their friend circles, which affected her studies and opportunities, she wrote.