Rapper Vedan granted bail in tiger tooth case; court dismisses Forest Dept's arguments

KOCHI: Rapper Hirandas Murali aka Vedan has been granted bail by the Perumbavoor Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in a case related to possession of a tiger tooth. Although the Forest Department argued against granting bail, the court dismissed their objections.

The bail was granted taking into account the Forest Department's own statement that Vedan was cooperating with the investigation. The court did not go into the merits of the case. Strict conditions were imposed for the bail: Vedan must cooperate with the investigation, he is not allowed to leave Kerala, he must appear before the investigating officer every Thursday, and he must submit his passport to the court within seven days.

Vedan told the court that he did not know the item in question was a tiger tooth and claimed he would not have used it if he had known. He also argued that it had not been scientifically confirmed to be a tiger tooth, aside from the Forest Department’s claim, and that no request had been made for his custody—therefore, bail should be granted.

The Forest Department countered that Vedan’s manager should be questioned, and questioning the manager might reveal the origin of the tiger tooth pendant. Although Vedan was earlier arrested in a marijuana-related case, he was granted bail shortly afterwards.