The rapper said anyone could land in such a situation and told the court that he would fully cooperate with the ongoing investigations and accept all conditions.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Judicial First Class Magistrate Court Perumbavoor in Kerala granted bail to rapper Hirandas Murali who is popularly known as Vedan in connection with the case related to possession of tiger tooth pendant, on Wednesday.
Vedan's counsel told the court that his client was not aware whether it was a real tiger tooth. He had received it as a gift from a fan and had he known about the reality, the rapper would not have accepted it.
The rapper said anyone could land in such a situation and told the court that he would fully cooperate with the ongoing investigations and accept all conditions.
The court also took into consideration the forest department's submission that Vedan was cooperating with the investigations. However, the forest officials opposed the bail plea, stating that Vedan might leave the country, and there is also a possibility that he might destroy evidence.
The court laid down stringent conditions while granting bail. Vedan has been told not to leave Kerala, surrender his passport to the court within seven days and report before the investigation official every Thursday.
Earlier in the day, the forest department officials completed the evidence collection. He was taken to the jewellery shop in Thrissur where the pendant was made. The probe team also visited the rapper’s house in Tirur.
Meanwhile, the forest department officials have not been able to trace or contact Ranjith Kumbidi, the NRI of Sri Lankan origin who gifted the tiger tooth to Vedan.
After getting bail, Vedan said sorry to all his fans and well-wishers. “Liquor and drugs are not a good habit. I will strive to become a good person. I thank everyone who prayed for me and supported me,” he said.
The Malayalam rapper and eight others were arrested by police on Monday following a raid conducted at his rented apartment in Kaniyampuzha in Kochi.
The rapper and others were booked after the police team seized 6 grams of ganja from the apartment. The accused have been charged under sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
The arrested persons were released on station bail after the completion of the required formalities.
The anti-drug team had carried out the raid based on a tip-off that narcotic drugs were being used in the flat.
The songs of Vedan, who was born in a railway colony in Thrissur, mainly feature anti caste oppression themes and issues of the marginalised sections. His songs are hugely popular among the youth, with his stage shows running to packed houses.
