Kochi: The Perumbavoor First Class Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday granted bail to Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as ‘Vedan’, in the case concerning the possession of a leopard tooth pendant.

The Forest Department's request to deny bail was dismissed by the court. 

Arrest following ganja raid

Earlier, ‘Vedan’ was arrested along with eight others after a police raid at his rented apartment in Kaniyampuzha, near Vyttila, Kochi, resulted in the seizure of approximately six gm of ganja. The group was released on station bail after the completion of necessary formalities.

During the raid, officials noticed a pendant on ‘Vedan's’ chain, which he claimed was a gift from a fan. Subsequent scientific examination confirmed that the pendant contained a genuine leopard tooth. This led the Forest and Wildlife Department to register a separate case and arrest Vedan again on Monday night.

Legal proceedings and custody

Following his arrest, Vedan was produced before the Perumbavoor First Class Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded in the custody of the Forest Department for two days. He was shifted to the Malayatoor Divisional Forest Office in Kodanad for further questioning.

Vedan stated that the leopard tooth pendant was given to him by a fan. The Forest Department is investigating the origin of the pendant and has collected evidence from the jeweller in Thrissur who attached the tooth to the chain. The verification followed a scientific examination conducted at a laboratory in Hyderabad.