Rapper Vedan Secures Anticipatory Bail from Kerala High Court Amidst Sexual Assault Allegations

In a significant legal development that has garnered widespread attention, popular Malayalam rapper Vedan, whose real name is Hirandas Murali, has been granted anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court. The order, issued by Justice Gopinath P., comes amidst serious allegations of sexual assault made by multiple women, which initially surfaced and gained prominence through social media platforms.

The case against Vedan saw him booked under various stringent sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 376(2)(n) (rape by a person in a position of authority over women), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). These charges were a direct consequence of the widely circulated posts on social media where several women detailed their alleged experiences with the artist. Following the public outcry, Vedan had issued a public apology on his social media handles, acknowledging some of his past actions.

During the proceedings, the High Court made a crucial observation regarding the initiation of the case. It noted that unlike typical cases where a First Information Report (FIR) is registered based on a direct complaint from a victim, the FIR in Vedan's case was registered by the police suo motu (on its own motion) after a police officer came across the social media posts detailing the allegations. Crucially, the court highlighted that there were no written complaints from the alleged victims directly to the police at the time of the FIR's registration.

Justice Gopinath P., while granting the anticipatory bail, imposed a series of strict conditions on the rapper to ensure his cooperation with the ongoing investigation and to prevent any potential obstruction of justice. Vedan has been directed to appear before the investigating officer as and when required, to cooperate fully with the probe, and to refrain from influencing witnesses or tampering with any evidence related to the case. Furthermore, he is prohibited from committing any similar offense while on bail and is mandated to surrender his passport to the court. The rapper is also required to furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 with two solvent sureties as part of the bail conditions.

The court's order also referenced the Supreme Court's landmark decision in Sushila Aggarwal and others v. State (NCT of Delhi) and another, which clarified that anticipatory bail orders should not be time-bound or restricted to a specific period. This ruling reinforces the longevity of the bail granted, provided Vedan adheres to all stipulated conditions. This high-profile case underscores the evolving landscape of justice, where social media plays an increasingly prominent role in bringing serious allegations to light, even as formal legal processes navigate these new forms of public discourse.