Kerala High Court Seeks State's Reply In Rapper Vedan's Plea To Modify Bail Conditions In Sexual Harassment Case For Performing Shows Abroad

The Kerala High Court on Thursday (October 23) sought the State's stand on a plea by Rapper Vedan seeking to modify two conditions imposed by the Sessions Court while granting him pre-arrest bail in a sexual harassment case.

Justice C. Pratheep Kumar, granted time to the prosecutor to get instructions and posted the matter to next week.

The prosecution has alleged that in December 2022, the petitioner–officially known as Hirandas–took the de facto complainant, who was a research scholar in Dalit Music, into his flat under the guise of listening to music. Once inside the room, the petitioner started speaking in a sexually explicit manner and attempted to sexually harass her. He even caught hold of her forcefully and kissed her when she tried to escape.

An FIR was registered against the petitioner at the Ernakulam Central Police station for the offences under Sections 294(b) [Obscene acts and songs], 354 [Assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty] and 354A(1)(i) [Sexual harassment] of the Indian Penal Code. Thereupon, he preferred a plea for pre-arrest bail before the District and Sessions Court which was allowed on certain conditions.

According to condition No. 5, the petitioner cannot leave Kerala without prior permission of the Court. Moreover, as per condition no. 3, he is directed to appear before the investigating officer on every Sunday between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.

Though he preferred an application before the Sessions Court to delete condition no. 5, it only modified the condition to the extent permitting him to leave Kerala from September 23 to October 23.

Now, the rapper has approached the High Court to modify conditions nos. 3 and 5. He has annexed a list of shows located at many foreign countries, including Colombo, Dubai, Qatar, France and Germany scheduled from this month to December.

"it is submitted that stage shows are the only show of livelihood of the petitioner..the condition no. 3 and condition no 5 are onerous in the present facts and circumstances of the case. Imposition of such conditions is affecting the right to livelihood of the petitioner and the deletion of such condition in no way affects the investigation or cause any prejudice to any person," says the plea.

Today, the High Court had also considered another petition filed by the de facto complainant, who had challenged a notice of appearance issued to her by the SHO of the Police Station. The proceedings were closed after recording the submission of the prosecutor that the notice was withdrawn and there is no need for her to appear before the police.

The High Court had recently granted the rapper anticipatory bail in another case alleging rape on the false promise to marry.

The petition is moved by Advocates C. Dheeraj Rajan, Anand Kalyanakrishnan and Libin Varghese.

Case No: Crl.M.C. No. 9448 of 2025

Case Title: Hirandas V.M. v. State of Kerala