Thiruvananthapuram: Dalit artist Vedan, one of the most popular Malayalam rappers, has landed in fresh trouble after a young doctor accused him of sexually abusing her on the pretext of marriage. A rape complaint has since then been lodged against him.
The artist, known for his bold political statements and his work that challenges the caste system, was booked by the Thrikkakara police in Ernakulam district under IPC Section 376 (punishment for rape).
Speaking to ThePrint, an officer with Thrikkakara police confirmed the registration of the police FIR after the petitioner approached the Kochi City Deputy Commissioner Wednesday night. Vedan, however, has not yet been served a notice in this regard.
Not the first time that the artist has found himself in the middle of a controversy, back in 2021, Vedan faced sexual misconduct allegations on social media from several women during the #MeToo movement. After a backlash, he also issued a public apology.
In the present case, the police said that Vedan and the doctor initially developed a friendship through social media in 2021, after which the artist allegedly sexually abused her multiple times. He promised to marry her to dissuade her from filing a complaint.
Addressing the media, Kochi Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya said that the complainant mentioned financial transactions between the two, which the police were investigating. The relevant sections, however, had not been invoked so far. The officer said that once the preliminary investigation is over, the police will add those sections if necessary.
“The investigation is currently in its preliminary stage. So we will take all necessary legal steps in this regard, and after that, further action will follow,” the police officer said.
The sexual abuse allegedly happened a few years ago, and the officer further said that the complainant had named a few witnesses, who were in the loop about what had transpired.
“They are saying a few people know about these matters. We will check that. We will speak to each of them. We will meet the witnesses and question them. Once questioned, there will be necessary action,” he said.
ThePrint reached Vedan for his comments, but he was unavailable. The copy will be updated if and when he responds.
Among other troubles, Vedan, along with eight others, was arrested in early May this year after the Ernakulam police seized six grams of ‘ganja‘ from his apartment in Tripunithura near Kochi. Granted bail, Vedan again faced arrest the same day by Kodanad forest range officials for allegedly wearing a chain with a suspected tiger tooth. However, his consecutive arrests sparked debate as many claimed his caste and politics made him a target. Subsequently, the Kodanad forest range officer, R. Atheesh, was transferred.
Moreover, BJP functionaries have lodged police complaints against the Dalit rapper, alleging that his songs attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and risked the unity of the Hindu community. Calicut University, in June, included his work, ‘Bhoomi Njan Vazhunnidam‘, in the BA Malayalam Literature syllabus, but, after a complaint by a BJP-affiliated syndicate member, an expert committee has suggested its removal.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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