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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Kangana Ranaut sparks row: Claims Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem
New Delhi: A significant political controversy has erupted following the Modi government's decision to rename the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), a move that has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties. The row was further fueled by BJP MP Kangana Ranaut, who, while defending the name change, erroneously claimed that Mahatma Gandhi had made the devotional song "Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram" India’s national anthem.
The central government has rebranded the flagship rural employment scheme from MGNREGA to the "Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission," abbreviated as VB-G RAM G. The removal of Mahatma Gandhi's name from the scheme has been termed an insult to the Father of the Nation by the Congress and other opposition parties.
When questioned by the media outside Parliament regarding the opposition's allegations, Mandi MP Kangana Ranaut defended the government's decision by invoking Mahatma Gandhi's devotion to Lord Ram.
"How is naming it 'Ram Ji' an insult to Gandhi ji?" Ranaut asked. "Mahatma Gandhi made 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram' the national anthem to organize the entire country. Therefore, this is an insult to Mahatma Gandhi? The government is fulfilling his dream by giving it the name of Ram."
Ranaut's claim regarding the national anthem was immediately seized upon by the opposition. Congress leader Supriya Shrinate shared the video of Ranaut’s statement on social media, tweeting sarcastically, "Come on brother, today we learned a new national anthem! The BJP is full of such gems."
Social media users also trolled the MP for the factual error. One user quipped, "Kangana ji forgot to mention that Bapu made this the national anthem after the country got independence in 2014," while another commented that the party finds people who "don't use their brains while forwarding WhatsApp messages."
Beyond the social media mockery, senior Congress leaders criticised the renaming on ideological grounds. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot took to X (formerly Twitter) to condemn the move.
"The biggest irony is that Mahatma Gandhi was a lifelong devotee of Lord Ram and said 'Hey Ram' in his last moments," Gehlot wrote. "Today, the central government is making a despicable attempt to sideline Gandhi ji under the guise of the same 'Ram' name (VB-G RAM G), which is highly condemnable."
मनरेगा का नाम बदलने की केंद्र सरकार की कवायद महात्मा गांधी के प्रति उनकी ओछी मानसिकता और असम्मान का प्रमाण है। सरकार पहले 'पूज्य बापू' के नाम का शिगूफा छोड़ती है और फजीहत होने पर अब 'विकसित भारत-गारंटी फॉर रोजगार एंड आजीविका मिशन (VB-G RAM G)' जैसा नाम थोपना चाहती है। बार-बार नाम…
— Ashok Gehlot (@ashokgehlot51) December 15, 2025
गांधी जी ने ‘रघुपति राघव राजा राम’ को लेकर नेशनल एंथम बनाया था
— Supriya Shrinate (@SupriyaShrinate) December 16, 2025
BJP MP कंगना रनौत
चलो भाई आज नया नेशनल एंथम भी पता चला है!
BJP में एक से एक शिरोमणि भरे पड़े हैं 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/9DvyV5xLb1
