Malayalam rapper and lyricist Vedan, whose real name is Hiran Das Murali, is facing deepening legal jeopardy after a forensic laboratory in Kolkata confirmed that the tooth he wore as a pendant was a genuine tiger tooth. The finding, announced on 16 May, marks a decisive turn in what began as a celebrity controversy and has rapidly escalated into a high-profile criminal investigation in Kerala.

Forensic Findings and Wildlife Charges

The sample seized from Vedan was sent to a Kolkata laboratory for scientific examination, and the results left no ambiguity — the ornament was fashioned from an actual tiger tooth. Following the confirmation, the Forest Department is preparing to file a charge sheet against the rapper. Officials are expected to invoke provisions related to the illegal possession of wildlife articles, offences that can attract imprisonment of up to three years.

International Dimension: Tiger Tooth from Thailand

Investigators say Vedan admitted during questioning that the tiger tooth had been sourced from Thailand and brought into India from abroad. The disclosure has added a cross-border dimension to the case, and authorities are reportedly examining whether the matter has any links to wider wildlife trafficking networks. The international provenance of the article is likely to intensify scrutiny and could draw in central agencies.

Narcotics Case Runs Parallel

Separately, Vedan is also facing a narcotics-related investigation. During a raid at his apartment in Tripunithura, officials reportedly seized around six grams of ganja from a table inside the flat. Investigators also recovered nearly ₹9.5 lakh in cash and confiscated multiple mobile phones for detailed forensic examination. According to officials, Vedan and members of his music group admitted to consuming narcotic substances.

Rise, Popularity, and Political Undertones

The developments come at a time when Vedan had been enjoying considerable public attention — particularly following his recent marriage and his rising profile among Kerala's youth through politically charged rap music and stage performances. His proximity to sections of the cultural establishment and a perceived soft approach by the Pinarayi Vijayan government towards him had, according to critics, already triggered questions from certain quarters. Now, with both wildlife and narcotics cases closing in simultaneously, those political undertones are likely to sharpen.

What Comes Next

The Forest Department's charge sheet is expected imminently, and the narcotics investigation remains ongoing. The forensic confirmation of the tiger tooth is widely seen as the turning point that transforms this from a reputational controversy into a case with serious criminal consequences. How swiftly the charge sheet is filed — and whether central wildlife or narcotics agencies step in — will determine the trajectory of one of Kerala's most closely watched celebrity legal cases in recent years.