A few hours after popular Malayalam rapper and songwriter Hirandas Murli, also known as Vedan, was arrested and then released on bail in a drug case, he was taken into custody again, this time by the Forest Department. Kerala Forests Minister A.K. Saseendran said on Tuesday that Vedan was found with a leopard tooth.

The minister said that the police found the leopard tooth during a search at the rapper’s rented house on Monday, and they informed the Forest Department about it.

Forest Department Registers Case, Starts Investigation

“On finding that it was a leopard tooth, the department registered a case and took him into custody. An investigation has been launched to find out where he got the tooth from. Once the probe is over, a report will be placed before the court which will take a decision,” the minister told reporters.

He also said that the Forest Department’s vigilance team had been keeping an eye on Vedan because of some past reports about him.

During questioning, Vedan first said that he brought the tooth from Thailand. Later, he said it was a gift from a fan at a program held in Chennai in May 2024.

Police Still Investigating Drug Case Against Vedan and Others

Meanwhile, Kochi City Police Commissioner Putta Vimaladitya said that the investigation into where the drugs found at Vedan’s home came from is still going on.

Along with Vedan, whose real name is Hirandas Murali, eight other people were also arrested in the drug case. During the raid, the police found five grams of dried ganja and tools used to take the drug in the apartment.