The Kerala High Court has granted temporary relief to rapper Vedan, also known as Hiran Das Murali, in a rape case. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas directed the prosecution not to arrest him until his anticipatory bail petition is reconsidered. The court has scheduled the anticipatory bail plea for Wednesday, August 20, 2025 and has included the victim as the third respondent in the case.

The case against Vedan was registered by the Thrikkakara Police based on a complaint filed by a young doctor. The complainant alleges that the rapper sexually harassed her multiple times between 2021 and 2023 after promising to marry her. She claims the trauma caused her depression, which led to a delay in filing the complaint. Vedan has been absconding since the complaint was filed, and police issued a lookout notice for him last week.

Vedan's counsel told the court that the relationship between the accused and the complainant was consensual. The Kerala High Court also questioned how a consensual physical relationship could be considered rape. The court stated that a rift in a relationship does not always constitute rape and that decisions must be based on evidence, not solely on social media allegations.

The victim's counsel stated that two more women have submitted complaints against Vedan to the Kerala Chief Minister, alleging he is a repeat offender. These complaints allege sexual assaults in 2020 and 2021. The court has asked for substantiation of the claim that Vedan is a repeat offender and whether any cases have been registered based on the new complaints. The court has put a hold on the arrest of Vedan until the state police inform the court if more cases have been registered against him.

Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya said the investigation into the rape allegations against Vedan is proceeding in the right direction and that all attempts were made to track down Vedan.

This isn't Vedan's first encounter with the law. He had previously been arrested in narcotics and wildlife cases but secured bail in both. In April, he was arrested with seven others for possession of ganja. Around the same time, forest officials detained him after discovering a tiger's tooth on his necklace.

The court has extended Vedan's interim protection from arrest until August 25, while his bail application is under consideration. The FIR against Vedan has been registered under Sections 376 (rape) and 376(2)(n) of the Indian Penal Code.