Popular Malayalam rapper and songwriter Vedan, whose real name is Hirandas Murali, was arrested along with eight others after the Hill Palace police seized ganja from his apartment in Tripunithura on Monday. The raid was conducted following a tip-off.
Police said the apartment served as a practice space for Vedan and his team. During the search, officers recovered six grams of ganja, mobile phones, and approximately ₹9.5 lakh in cash. According to investigators, the cash was reportedly earnings from recent music performances.
“Around nine people were present at the time of the raid. During questioning, Vedan admitted to consuming ganja,” a police officer told reporters.
The arrests have been officially recorded, and all the accused are set to undergo health checks and other legal formalities. Authorities confirmed that they would be released later on station bail. Meanwhile, police have launched an investigation to trace the origin of the contraband.
The incident has sparked significant public attention, especially as Vedan has been an outspoken critic of drug use during his concerts and public appearances. Known for his socially conscious lyrics and strong fan base among Kerala’s youth, the rapper’s arrest has drawn mixed reactions online.
This arrest comes just a day after another high-profile drug bust in Kochi, where noted Malayalam film directors Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamsa were caught with 1.63 grams of hybrid ganja in a flat. They, too, were released on station bail. In a separate incident, actor Shine Tom Chacko was also recently booked in a drug-related case after evading a raid at a hotel.
As a series of drug-related arrests unfold across Kerala’s entertainment industry, law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on narcotics and the network behind their distribution.
Sources By Agencies
