Hirandas Murali, popularly known as rapper Vedan, a 30-year-old Dalit artist from Thrissur, Kerala, has found himself at the center of a storm following his arrests by the Kerala Police and the Forest Department.
On April 28, 2025, Vedan and eight others were detained by the Excise Department in Kochi for possessing approximately 6 grams of hybrid cannabis. A day later, on April 29, forest officials arrested him for wearing a tiger tooth pendant, confirmed as genuine through a lab test in Hyderabad.
The pendant, which Vedan claims was a gift from a fan, has led to charges under wildlife protection laws, potentially carrying a seven-year sentence. He was remanded to the custody of the Forest Department for two days and shifted to the Malayatoor Divisional Forest Office for questioning.
The arrests have sparked widespread controversy, with many media outlets and social media platforms accused of demonising Vedan, focusing not on the legal issues but on his identity as a Dalit artist whose music challenges caste oppression and systemic inequality.
Vedan, who rose to prominence with his 2020 track “Voice of the Voiceless,” uses his rap to address subaltern politics, caste discrimination, Islamophobia, and social justice, themes that resonate with marginalised communities but unsettle Kerala’s mainstream cultural elite.
Critics argue that the intense scrutiny and character assassination he faces stem from his caste identity and the disruptive nature of his art, which has penetrated a Malayali cultural sphere historically inaccessible to lower castes.
Media and public backlash: a casteist vendetta?
Following the arrests, several media outlets and social media handles launched what activists describe as a coordinated campaign to vilify Vedan. Social media posts and news reports emphasised his alleged criminality, often sidelining the broader context of his artistic contributions.
A post on X by @junjunjitweets highlighted Vedan’s prior legal troubles, including a 2022 cannabis possession case and 2021 MeToo allegations, framing him as a habitual offender and questioning claims of caste-based victimisation. Such narratives, activists argue, obscure the systemic biases at play.
Dalit thinker K.K. Baburaj condemned the response as reflective of deep-seated caste prejudice. He posed a provocative question: “If the marginalised don’t use alcohol and marijuana, will the public conscience not hunt them down?”
Baburaj pointed to the hypocrisy in Kerala’s social fabric, noting that marginalised groups face relentless scrutiny regardless of their actions. He highlighted the broader pattern of discrimination: “Pentecostals are among the most devout Christians, often abstaining from drugs and even television. Yet, they face persistent ridicule and criticism from both elite Christians and the broader public. Similarly, the Muslim community, which exhibits the lowest rates of drug use, endures daily accusations, including baseless claims like ‘narcotic jihad.’ Many sincere individuals believe that society accepts Muslims living devout, drug-free lives.”
Baburaj argued that Vedan’s persecution reflects the elite’s discomfort with marginalised communities achieving progress: “The issue lies in the marginalised perpetuating the anxieties and fears of the elite. Any progress they achieve often provokes a sense of retribution among the elite.”
He further criticised those who use cultural purity to justify targeting Vedan, warning, “He alone can choose whether to surrender to addiction and perish. However, those who champion cultural purity in his name conceal the truth that Hitlerism itself embodied cultural purity.”
In a Facebook post, Baburah expressed hope for Vedan’s resilience: “Vedan declared, ‘May this chaos and commotion soon subside.’ Even if detained by Kerala’s ethnic police or the criminal forest department, he will undoubtedly rise to sing and speak once more. The vibrant culture ignited by Vedan and Khalid Rahman should continue to thrive in this spirit of resilience.”
Supporters rally: highlighting double standards
Veteran Dalit leader K. Ambujakshan also came to Vedan’s defense, emphasising the disparity in how legal violations are treated based on caste and class. In a Facebook post, he contrasted Vedan’s situation with that of prominent Malayalam film industry figures who faced minimal repercussions for possessing prohibited items like tiger skins or elephant tusks.
Ambujakshan wrote: “Vedan holds no elephant’s tusk in his hand, no intermediaries shield the corporate wealth that burdens the nation, no affluent Western followers arrive with materials through privileged channels to offset a spiritual journey. The crowds drawn to his music are the nation’s ordinary people, especially its youth. If negligence has caused shortcomings, they can be addressed through compassionate action, but it is unjust to silence an artist who inspires hope. Vedan’s lyrics dismantle the walls of inequality, envisioning a world of fairness. I stand with those who cherish Vedan’s rap, igniting minds and hearts. With Vedan.”
Geevarghese Mar Koorilos, former Metropolitan of the Jacobite Church Niranam Diocese, added a religious perspective, praising Vedan’s art as a rebellion against systemic oppression.
In a post featuring Vedan’s image, he stated: “In a society where caste divides not only humans but also animals and their remains, I stand with the Vedan’s ‘black’ politics and his artistic revolt against ‘white gods.’ Let this revolution persist. However, I unequivocally oppose drug addiction.” Mar Koorilos’s support underscores the intersection of caste and cultural resistance in Vedan’s work, while distancing himself from drug use.
Sanskrit scholar and professor T.S. Syam Kumar exposed the hypocrisy of Kerala’s upper-caste elite, who historically celebrated intoxicants in cultural and literary contexts but now condemn marginalised artists like Vedan.
He noted: “In Vedic traditions, Indra, the deity of rituals who consumes Soma and Sura, is central to the sacrificial practices of Aryan Brahmanism. In Valmiki’s Ramayana, Sita prays to Ganga for a thousand jugs of liquor upon her return from exile. While some Malayalis recite these verses in the evening to combat intoxication, the elite historically viewed intoxicants as essential for literary and cultural creation.”
Kumar argued that the same elites who once glorified intoxication now marginalise Dalit artists, restricting their access to mainstream platforms.
Tribal activist Gomathi echoed this sentiment on Facebook, redirecting attention to Vedan’s art: “With Vedan, as the focus shifts from cannabis to tiger teeth, the true essence emerges. The heart of the matter lies in Vedan’s song—its lyrics and its political resonance.”
Caste bias in the spotlight
The controversy has reignited discussions about caste discrimination in Kerala, a state often perceived as progressive but criticised for its subtle yet pervasive casteism.
A 2021 article by The News Minute quoted Vedan as saying, “This ignorance about caste is dangerous as it removes all spaces for a Dalit or a person from an oppressed caste to speak out. We hope to change this through our music.”
His songs, such as “Vaa,” released on Ambedkar Jayanti in 2021, call for unity among oppressed communities, making him a target for those unsettled by his political messaging.
Filmmaker and critic Rajesh Rajamani said that the campaign against Vedan stems from his caste-critical work. “Clearly, this can’t be just because he has done something against the law. But for the discomfort he creates through his work—that bothers the Malayali liberal’s belief that they are beyond caste”.
Legal and political context
Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran clarified that Vedan must prove in court that the tiger tooth was a gift, as the Forest Department pursues charges under wildlife protection laws.
Meanwhile, Baburaj questioned the ruling party’s inaction: “Many prominent figures in the ruling party in Kerala have stated that the action against Vedan is a racial vendetta. Yet why haven’t they stopped this abuse of power by the police?”
The arrests come against a backdrop of heightened scrutiny of marginalised communities in Kerala. A 2021 report by The Wire cited Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan debunking claims of “narcotic jihad,” highlighting that drug-related issues cut across religious and caste lines, yet certain communities face disproportionate blame.
Vedan’s case, activists argue, exemplifies this selective outrage, amplified by his status as a Dalit artist challenging the status quo.
A call for justice
As Vedan navigates the legal battles ahead, his supporters emphasise the need to protect his right to artistic expression.
His music, which draws crowds of ordinary youth and gives voice to the marginalised, remains a beacon of hope for many.
The controversy surrounding his arrests has laid bare the contradictions of Kerala’s progressive image, exposing the casteist undercurrents that seek to silence voices like his.
As Gomathi aptly stated, the heart of the matter lies not in cannabis or tiger teeth but in Vedan’s songs—their lyrics, their politics, and their power to inspire change.
Courtesy: Maktoob Media
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