Union Minister Suresh Gopi is under fresh scrutiny for allegedly wearing a pendant made from a leopard tooth. A complaint against the actor-turned-politician was submitted to the state police chief by A.A. Mohamed Hashim, state general secretary of the INTUC Youth Wing.
Hashim’s move came in the wake of the recent arrest of Malayalam rapper Vedan, who was charged by the Kodanad Range Officer of the Forest Department under various charges, including hunting and illegal possession of wildlife articles. A leopard tooth pendant was reportedly found in the artist’s flat during a narcotics raid.
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Earlier, Hashim had posted a photo of Suresh Gopi online with the caption: “Isn't this none other than Suresh Gopi — the Union Minister and Thrissur MP — doing a regal circumambulation around the Thrissur Round wearing a leopard tooth? Will the Kerala Forest Department and the Police investigate this too and file a case under the Hunting Act that could lead to seven years of imprisonment?”
Hashim has also submitted photographic evidence allegedly showing the minister wearing a pendant made from a leopard tooth.
Meanwhile, intense debates are unfolding in Malayali cyberspace, questioning whether the Kerala government went too far in invoking stringent legal provisions against the rapper while appearing lenient towards others. Vedan has been dropped from the fourth anniversary celebration programme from the government. His programme was supposed to happen on Wednesday in Idukki.
Notably, as support for Vedan grew online, an earlier controversy involving allegations of sexual misconduct against the rapper resurfaced, reigniting public discussion. Vedan faced the allegation while he was working as part of ‘From a Native Daughter’ music album by Muhsin Parari. As the controversy erupted, Parari had cancelled the production activities related to this album. Vedan then took social media to issue a public apology.
