Kochi: In the case related to possession of a tiger tooth, the Forest Department has charged rapper Hirandas Murali, popularly known as "Vedan", with an offence that could lead to up to seven years of imprisonment. According to statements received by the Forest Department, a man named Ranjith, who had migrated to either the UK or France via Sri Lanka, was the one who handed over the tiger tooth to Vedan. Vedan had communicated with Ranjith through Instagram and other platforms. Range Officer Atheesh Ravindran said that they hope to trace Ranjith through these communications. He also added that Vedan’s mother is of Sri Lankan origin, which might be relevant in the case.

The Forest and Wildlife Department filed the case after it was confirmed that the locket on the chain worn by Vedan was a tiger tooth. He had been arrested earlier, along with eight others, in connection with a ganja possession case. During that investigation, it was discovered that the locket was a tiger tooth, leading to the Forest Department's involvement.

Although Vedan secured station bail in the ganja case, the Forest Department has filed non-bailable charges in the wildlife case.

Vedan told the Forest Department that the tiger tooth was a gift from Ranjith and others, and that he was unaware of its nature when he received it. The tiger tooth had been altered into a locket, reportedly at a jewellery shop in Thrissur, which will be visited for evidence collection, according to Forest officials.

The charges include hunting wild animals, which can result in imprisonment ranging from three to nine years and a fine, as well as unlawful possession of forest resources. The department clarified that even unknowingly possessing such items is a punishable offence.

Whether Vedan was involved in hunting remains to be confirmed through further investigation. If only Ranjith is found responsible, the charges against Vedan might be dropped, the Range Office stated.

The Forest Department has not yet managed to contact Ranjith. They hope to extract more information through continued interrogation while Vedan is in custody. Officials also mentioned that Vedan has been cooperating well with the investigation.

Before being taken to court from Kodanad Range Office, Vedan told the media that he consumes ganja and alcohol, and that it is well-known. When asked by journalists whether he used chemical drugs, his reply was "No."

During a police search at the flat where Vedan and his friends lived, 6 grams of cannabis and ₹9.5 lakhs in cash were found. Although they later received bail in that case, the tiger tooth discovery in Vedan's locket led the Forest and Wildlife Department to register his arrest that same night.