Rapper Vedan remanded to Forest Department custody in leopard tooth case

Kochi: Hirandas Murali, popularly known as rapper Vedan (30), has been remanded to the custody of the forest department in a case involving possession of a leopard tooth locket. The department requested custody for evidence collection and further investigation. The court granted two days of custody.

The court directed that Vedan be produced before it by 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Inspections at Thrissur and Thrippunithura residences

Forest officials will conduct evidence collection at Vedan’s flat in Thrippunithura and house in Thrissur. Both locations will be subject to further inspection. Investigators will also take Vedan to a jewellery shop in Viyyur, Thrissur, where the leopard tooth was allegedly modified into a locket.

Bail application filed; hearing set for May 2

Vedan has filed a bail application in the forest case. The court will consider the plea on May 2.

Initial arrest during narcotics raid

Vedan was first arrested from a flat in Thrippunithura during a raid for ganja (cannabis) use. He and eight others were detained by police, who seized six grams of cannabis from the site. During the arrest, police noticed a pendant around Vedan’s neck, suspected to contain a leopard tooth.

The forest department was informed, and testing confirmed it was indeed a leopard tooth. A case was then registered under wildlife protection laws. Although Vedan secured bail in the cannabis case, he remained in forest department custody and was later produced in court following formal arrest.

Tooth gifted by fans, Vedan tells officials

According to Vedan, the leopard tooth was gifted by fans in Tamil Nadu. He stated that among them, he only personally knew a man named Ranjith.