Close on the heels of the arrest of filmmakers Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza for possessing hybrid ganja, police officials have seized ganja from rapper Vedan's flat in Kochi. Nine people, including Vedan, were present in the flat when the cops raided it and seized 5 gms of ganja. Officers from the Kochi City DANSAF squad (District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force) conducted the raid based on a tip-off. According to them, the rapper has been under their observation for a while now.
Vedan will be booked as per the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Since the contraband quantity in possession was minimal, Vedan and others are expected to be released on station bail.
Vedan, originally Hirandas Murali, shot to fame in 2020 with his first music video 'Voice of the Voiceless', which went viral online. In the following year, he was accused of sexual misconduct by some women during the MeToo movement. He later responded to the allegations with an apology.
Vedan made a comeback last year by collaborating with Sushin Shyan for the smash hit 'Kuthanthram' from Manjummel Boys. Ironically, Vedan, popular for his politically charged songs, recently appealed to youngsters during a stage show to stay away from synthetic drugs, calling it 'chekuthan' (devil in disguise).
The raid at Vedan's residence also coincided with actors Shine Tom Chacko and Sreenath Bhasi appearing for questioning before the excise team, investigating the seizure of hybrid cannabis in Alappuzha.
It was on Sunday that excise officials picked up Khalid Rahman and Ashraf Hamza from cinematographer Sameer Thahir's flat in Kochi. They were later released after questioning.