Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, who is popularly known by his stage name 'Vedan', has moved the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case. The Kerala Police had earlier booked him for allegedly sexually assaulting a doctor under the pretext of marriage.
Vedan said in his bail plea that he was constantly threatened with being framed in such a legal suit. A group is trying to intimidate him to extract money, the rapper said, adding that his managers are regularly getting threat calls.
The lady doctor, who is the complainant, had reached out to him as a fan. A disagreement led to her moving legally against him, Manorama Online quoted Vedan as saying in his bail application. He and the complainant are individuals who are fully aware of the consequences of filing a rape case, he reportedly added.
The popular actor decided to move an anticipatory bail plea after the police recorded the statement of the complainant in confidence. Anticipating that the next step of the probe team could be procedures including his arrest, the 30-year-old reportedly approached the High Court.
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According to police, a case has been registered against the rapper by Thrikkakara police in Ernakulam based on the complaint of the young doctor. A spokesperson of Kerala police said, "A sexual assault case has been registered against Kerala rapper Hirandas Murali, better known as Vedan, after a young doctor filed a complaint of sexual relations on the false promise of marriage."
Vedan is accused of sexually assaulting the victim multiple times between August 2021 and March 2023. According to police, the doctor and the singer got acquainted through social media and they first met in a flat in Kozhikode, Kerala.
The victim alleged Vedan lured her into a relationship with false promises of marriage and sexually assaulted her. According to the police, Vedan had also borrowed money from the victim on several occasions. Police registered a case under IPC Section 376(2) and launched a probe.
Vedan has faced accusations of sexual harassment in the early stages of his career as well. The victims shared their experience through a Facebook post on the page 'Women against Sexual Harassment.'