Rapper Vedan booked for rape after complaint alleging sexual abuse on promise of marriage
Kochi: Malayalam rapper and songwriter Hirandas Murali, popularly known as Vedan, has been booked for rape following a complaint by a young doctor who accused him of sexually abusing her under the false promise of marriage.
The Thrikkakara police in Ernakulam district registered the case on Wednesday night after the complainant approached the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Kochi City). Police said the alleged incidents occurred a few years ago and that Thrikkakara was among the places mentioned in the complaint where the abuse took place.
A senior police officer confirmed: “We are verifying the facts, after which further action will be taken.” The case was formally registered after the woman's statement was recorded.
According to sources, the survivor decided to approach the police after coming across the account of another woman who had allegedly experienced similar abuse by Vedan.
This is not the first time Vedan has faced such allegations. During the height of the Me Too movement, similar accusations had surfaced against him.
The rapper has also had multiple legal run-ins in recent months. On April 28 this year, he was arrested by the Hill Palace police along with eight friends after six grams of ganja were allegedly recovered from his Kochi apartment. Though released on bail in that case, he was immediately arrested by the Forest Department for possessing a leopard-tooth pendant, which he claimed was a gift from a fan. He was later granted bail in that case as well.
Vedan has remained a controversial figure in Kerala’s music and political landscape. He has frequently clashed with right-wing outfits, including the BJP and Sangh Parivar, over the political content of his lyrics. In one such incident, a BJP councillor from Palakkad municipality lodged a complaint claiming his music defamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and promoted caste-based divisions.
Reacting to criticism, Vedan had previously stated, “My detractors seem to be troubled by the politics I advocate. Their response only shows that I’m striking the right chords.”
Meanwhile, a section of university staff had earlier opposed the exclusion of Vedan’s songs from the Calicut University syllabus, citing concerns over censorship of dissenting voices in art and music.
The case is under further investigation.
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Karnataka School Edu Dept prohibits children from being made to dance to obscene songs
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka School Education Department has issued a circular strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs in educational and cultural programmes.
It stated that such dances would negatively impact students' mental health and moral values. It will create indiscipline and harm the sanctity of education.
"All the Deputy Directors (Administration) of the state's School Education Department have been asked to take strict measures to prevent children or students from dancing to obscene songs in all government, aided and unaided schools in the state," the office of the commissioner of the School Education Department said in a recent circular.
"If it is found that children are being made to dance to obscene songs, appropriate action will be taken against the headmaster or management of such school," it added.
The department also listed certain measures in this regard, which include: strictly prohibiting children from being made to dance to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes; selecting songs that are inspiring, positive, instilling national pride in children and reflecting the greatness, dignity, values, culture, and morality of the state.
Stating that the school headmaster and management are responsible for selecting songs and dances for cultural programmes, it said, they should also ensure that students wear decent clothes in dance or cultural programmes.
