Kerala-based rapper and songwriter Hirandas Murali, widely recognised by his stage name Vedan, has found himself at the centre of a fresh controversy after police confirmed that a sexual assault case has been registered against him.
The complaint, lodged by a young doctor, alleges that Murali maintained sexual relations with her on multiple occasions between August 2021 and March 2023 under the pretence of marriage, according to a report by TOI citing the police and ANI.
The police have filed the case under pertinent provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) relating to sexual assault. Authorities stated that an active investigation is underway to probe the allegations.
Vedan is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, he was accused by a woman leader of the BJP from Palakkad, Kerala, of producing music that allegedly defames Prime Minister Narendra Modi and fuels caste-based divisions. VS Minimol, a Palakkad Municipality councillor and chairperson of its development committee, formally petitioned the Union Home Ministry and the National Investigation Agency to take action against Vedan, claiming that his work contained defamatory content and inflammatory language targeting the Prime Minister and the Hindu community, as reported by India Today.
Murali’s troubles didn’t end there. On 28 April 2025, he was arrested along with eight members of his band after Hill Palace police raided his Kochi residence in response to a confidential tip-off about suspected drug use. During the search, officers reportedly found six grams of an illegal substance, Rs 9.5 lakh in cash and a handful of mobile phones. The police disclosed that the operation followed months of surveillance, leading to a lengthy six-hour procedure before the arrests were made. All accused were subjected to medical tests before they were released on bail.
This is not the rapper’s first brush with accusations of sexual misconduct. In 2021, multiple anonymous testimonies alleging harassment by Vedan were shared online by survivors through the Facebook platform Women Against Sexual Harassment. Although no official police complaint was registered at the time, the mounting social media outcry prompted Murali to issue a public apology on his Instagram page.
Hirandas Murali rose to fame in 2020 at the age of 25 with his debut music video, "Voice of the Voiceless", on YouTube. He has since collaborated with well-known music director Sushin Shyam, notably penning the lyrics of "Kuthanthram" for the blockbuster film "Manjummel Boys" and contributing as a playback singer, with credits in "Nayattu" and "No Way Out".
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