The Kerala High Court Today (Aug 27) gave anticipatory bail to Malayalam rapper Vedan in a rape case filed by a young doctor. The Court said breakup of a consensual relationship should not automatically lead to criminal charges.
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KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Wednesday allowed anticipatory bail to Malayalam rapper Hirandas Murali, who is popularly known as ‘Vedan’, in a rape case registered against him based on a complaint filed by a young doctor.
While giving relief, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas made important observations about how the law views consent in intimate relationships.
The judge stated that-
“Labelling physical intimacy as rape merely because the relationship has ceased to exist is illogical.”
The Court further explained:
“The breakup of a relationship between consenting couples leading to criminal proceedings and consequential arrest will destroy the future of an individual. This proposition has significance, especially when there are prima facie materials to assume that the relationship was consensual in nature and was between persons who could comprehend the nature of the act and its consequences.”
Justice Thomas highlighted that such cases cannot be looked at with a single formula and said that the answer depends on the circumstances of each case.
The order also clarified that if a person had no intention of marriage from the beginning but entered into a physical relationship only by giving a false promise of marriage, then such consent would be considered invalid, because the principle of consent obtained by deception would apply.
The Court then pointed out the difference between two kinds of consent.
It said:
“Consent for sexual intercourse based on a false promise of marriage and consent given under the expectation or assumption of marriage are two different things. Normally, consent is regarded as a choice made after evaluating various aspects, alternatives available, and the possible consequences of the act.”
The judge also referred to the law and added that Section 375 of the IPC requires that consent be given after understanding the various consequences of the proposed act and before making a reasoned decision.
Justice Thomas acknowledged that though the allegations made against rapper Vedan were serious,
“His custodial interrogation is not required.”
The Court directed Vedan to appear before the investigating officer between 10 am and 5 pm on September 9, and again at the same time on the following day. This period shall be considered as limited custody for interrogation.
On the matter of another FIR against the rapper, the Court clarified that
“The fact that a new crime has been registered against the rapper by another woman, or that another case may also be registered, is not a matter for consideration in this case.”
According to the prosecution, the young doctor had given a written complaint to the Kochi City Police Commissioner on July 30, and the FIR was registered on July 31.
The police carried out searches in both Kozhikode and Kochi, where the alleged incidents were said to have taken place, and even issued a look-out notice against Vedan.
The prosecution also argued about the investigation process. The prosecutor told the court that though the victim’s counsel alleged the police had not recorded statements of doctors regarding the complainant’s psychological issues, no such issues were mentioned by the victim in the First Information Statement (FIS).
It was also informed that the mobile phones of both Vedan and the complainant have been seized by the police and that the investigation is ongoing.
LAST HEARING IN HC
The Kerala High Court on Aug 19 directed the police not to arrest Malayalam rapper, lyricist and performer Hiran Das Murali, popularly known as Vedan, in a rape case filed on the basis of a complaint by a woman doctor.
The woman alleged that she was sexually exploited under the “false pretext of marriage.”
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas passed this interim order while considering Vedan’s anticipatory bail plea. The Court clarified that the protection from arrest will continue until the next posting date of the matter.
The case was registered by Thrikkakara Police after the complaint of the young doctor.
According to the FIR, the complainant and Vedan were in a consensual relationship until 2021, which began after the complainant reached out to him as a fan. Their relationship gradually became intimate, first in Calicut and later in Ernakulam.
The complainant said that Vedan made repeated promises to marry her, which led to multiple instances of physical intimacy and even financial transactions.
In his bail plea, Vedan argued that the relationship was voluntary. He stated that the complaint was filed only after a personal fallout between the two.
His petition also submitted that even if the allegations are accepted at face value, it does not satisfy the legal ingredients of the offence of rape under Sections 376 and 376(2)(n) of the IPC.
Relying on earlier judgments, Vedan argued that a broken promise of marriage, especially in a long-standing consensual relationship, does not automatically amount to rape unless the promise was false from the beginning.
Vedan also alleged that a group of individuals are conspiring to malign his reputation and extort money by filing coordinated complaints.
He claimed that several threatening voice messages and calls have been received by him and his associates, which are part of this orchestrated campaign.
His petition further added that he is a public figure and an artist with no prior criminal record. Custodial interrogation is unnecessary as he is willing to fully cooperate with the investigation.
Earlier, the Court had allowed the complainant woman to join the proceedings in this case. She strongly opposed relief for Vedan, stating that he had two other rape complaints against him, making him a habitual offender.
This is not the first time Vedan has faced legal trouble. Earlier this year, he was arrested twice in different cases. In April, he was held with others for alleged cannabis possession in Kochi. In another case, he was booked for wearing a leopard tooth pendant, which he said was a fan’s gift. He secured bail in both cases.
Recently, the police even issued a lookout notice against Vedan, who is believed to be absconding.
- Vedan was represented by advocates S Rajeev, V Vinay, MS Aneer, Sarath KP, Anilkumar CR, KS Kiran Krishnan, Dipa V, Akash Cherian Thomas, and Azad Sunil.
BACKGROUND
Malayalam rapper, lyricist and stage performer Hiran Das Murali, popularly known as Vedan, on Aug 1st approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail in a rape case.
The case was filed on the basis of a complaint from a young doctor, who alleged that she was sexually exploited under the false pretext of marriage.
The Thrikkakara Police registered the case after receiving the doctor’s complaint. According to the first information report (FIR), the complainant first contacted Vedan as a fan, and later they entered into a relationship. Their association reportedly turned intimate from 2021 onwards, first in Calicut and later in Ernakulam.
The complainant alleged that Vedan repeatedly assured her that he would marry her. Believing his promises, she got into a physical relationship with him multiple times. She also mentioned that there were financial transactions between them during this period.
In his bail petition, Vedan strongly denied the allegations. He said the relationship was mutual and consensual. He further stated that the complaint was made only after a personal fallout between them.
His petition also argued that even if the claims are taken at face value, they do not meet the legal definition of rape under Section 376 (punishment for rape) and Section 376(2)(n) (repeated rape on the same woman) of the Indian Penal Code.
Vedan’s petition highlighted several court precedents to argue that a broken promise of marriage in a long-standing consensual relationship cannot be considered rape unless it can be shown that the promise was false from the very beginning.
The petition specifically quoted:
“The promise to marriage and when there is a sore in the relationship the attitude of filing complaint alleging that the accused sexually abused the complainant will not come under the category of rape. Both the petitioner and the defacto complainant are major and educated and aware of the consequences.”
The plea also claimed that a group of people are working together to tarnish his public image and extort money by filing multiple complaints against him.
According to the petition, Vedan and his associates have received threatening calls and voice messages, which he believes are part of this deliberate campaign to defame him.
The rapper, who is a well-known public figure with no past criminal record, argued that his custodial interrogation is unnecessary as he is willing to fully cooperate with the police investigation.
He also submitted that despite repeated requests, the police have not yet given him a copy of the FIR or other related documents, which is why he could not attach them along with his petition.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Vedan has faced legal troubles. Earlier this year, he was arrested twice in separate cases. In April 2025, he was arrested in Kochi along with others for alleged possession of cannabis.
In another case, he was held for wearing a leopard tooth pendant, which he claimed was a gift from a fan. In both instances, he managed to secure bail.
CASE TITLE:
Hiran Das Murali v State of Kerala & anr.
Case No:
Bail Appl. No. 9377/2025
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