No prima facie evidence against Vedan, says Kerala court in ‘leopard tooth’ pendant case
The court also observed that there is no allegation or evidence to suggest that Vedan was involved in the hunting, trade, or unlawful acquisition of wildlife articles
Granting conditional bail to rap artist Hirandas VM, also known as Vedan, in a case under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the Judicial First Class Magistrate-III Court in Perumbavoor noted that there is no prima facie evidence to establish that the pendant he possessed is made from a leopard’s tooth, as claimed by the prosecution.
The order, issued by Magistrate Sharath Kumar KJ, states that the material currently on record does not establish a strong prima facie case. It also notes that the prosecution has not produced any forensic report to verify whether the pendant is indeed made from a Schedule I wildlife item. In the absence of such confirmation, the court said it cannot conclude that the Wildlife Protection Act has been violated.
Booked under Wildlife Act
Vedan was arrested on April 29, 2025, after being found in possession of a small quantity of ganja. During that detention, forest officials noticed a pendant around his neck, which they suspected to be a leopard tooth. He was later booked under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, which penalises possession of items derived from protected species. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was also registered against him.
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The prosecution argued that Vedan’s possession of the pendant amounted to a serious offence and opposed the bail application. It cited his public profile as a performing artist and claimed there was a risk that he could tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. It also raised concerns that the individual who allegedly gifted the pendant had not yet been located.
No evidence of hunting
Led by advocate Jos Jewel, the defence stated that the pendant was given to Vedan by a fan during an event in Chennai and that the artist had no knowledge of its composition. The defence maintained that the pendant could be made of synthetic or imitation material and not an actual tooth. The court noted this argument and stated in the bail order that, “There remains a real possibility that the article may not be a genuine leopard tooth.”
The court also observed that there is no allegation or evidence to suggest that Vedan was involved in the hunting, trade, or unlawful acquisition of wildlife articles. The bail order notes that Vedan has no history of offences under the Wildlife Protection Act and has only one unrelated case involving the possession of a small quantity of ganja. The pendant had been openly worn by the artist during public performances and was not concealed, the court added.
Asked to surrender passport
In granting bail, the court invoked Section 51A of the Wildlife Protection Act, which requires courts to provide the prosecution with an opportunity to oppose bail and to form an opinion based on reasonable grounds whether the accused is guilty of the offence. The court said it was satisfied that the current evidence does not indicate that Vedan is guilty or likely to commit a similar offence while out on bail.
The bail is subject to strict conditions. Vedan must execute a personal bond of ₹50,000 with two solvent sureties for the same amount. He must either surrender his passport to the court within seven days or submit an affidavit stating that he does not possess one. He has been directed to report to the Range Forest Officer in Kodanad every Thursday between 10.00 am and 1.00 pm two months or until the chargesheet is filed, whichever is earlier.
He is barred from leaving the state of Kerala without prior permission from the court. He is also prohibited from tampering with evidence, contacting any officials involved in the investigation except through legal procedures, or attempting to influence or intimidate witnesses. The court has stated that any violation of these conditions may result in the cancellation of bail.
‘Can’t curtail personal liberty’
The court further clarified that denial of bail cannot be justified solely based on the seriousness of the offence if the evidence does not support the allegations. Referring to Article 21 of the Constitution, the court held that personal liberty cannot be curtailed without sufficient legal grounds.
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The case now hinges on the outcome of forensic analysis of the pendant. The Forest Department has reportedly sent the item for examination to determine whether it is made from genuine wildlife material. If confirmed to be a leopard tooth, it could strengthen the prosecution’s case. If not, the charge under the Wildlife Protection Act is likely to be dropped.
Conditional release for now
Legal observers say the bail order sets a clear benchmark for how courts should treat wildlife possession cases in the absence of scientific confirmation. The order reinforces the requirement that charges must be based on verifiable evidence, especially when the alleged offence carries serious consequences.
As of now, Vedan remains under conditional release. The investigation is underway and will depend on forensic results and further evidence gathered by forest officials. The court has not made any comment on the merits of the NDPS charge, which will proceed separately.
Vedan, who was initially arrested by the police from his flat in Kochi for possessing a small quantity of ganja, was later booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for allegedly possessing a leopard tooth pendant.
