‘I will try to become a better person’: Dalit rapper Vedan after bail from Kerala court

After coming out of the court, Vedan told the media, “I will try to become a better person. I’m trying to correct myself. All those who hear me should understand that smoking and alcohol consumption are not good habits.”

Vedan, a native of Thrissur, was noticed as a rap singer five years ago when he released the album, Voice of the Voiceless, which turned out to be an instant hit. He had also penned lyrics for the 2024 Malayalam hit, Manjummel Boys.

Dalit leader Punnala Sreekumar said Vedan should correct himself with regard to the drug use. “But he was denied justice in the leopard tooth case. When several celebrities were found possessing elephant trunks, we knew what the stand of the forest department was. Vedan should not be hunted like this,” Sreekumar said.

Environmental scientist Dr S Faizi, in a Facebook post, wrote, “We have the Constitution and the Parliament to fight against racism, but that will be repeatedly sabotaged by our politicians and bureaucrats. Wildlife act was misused against Vedan. He can approach the national commission for SC/ST.”

Forest Minister A K Saseendran, who had earlier justified the case against Vedan, mellowed his line Wednesday amidst mounting protests from various quarters. “There was an attempt to use the controversy against the government. As a representative of a politically conscious generation, Vedan is a promising artiste. The Forest Department will give him all support for his return as a singer,” the minister said.