In a breakthrough for Malayalam rapper Vedan, the Kerala High Court has relaxed his bail conditions, clearing his path for a much-anticipated overseas concert tour. Justice C. Pratheep Kumar has removed stipulations that confined the artist, known legally as Hirandas, to Kerala and required his regular check-ins with the police. This judicial modification allows Vedan to travel to international venues, including Dubai, Qatar, France, and Germany, for performances scheduled between late November and December. The prosecution did not oppose the lifting of these restrictions, contingent on Vedan’s commitment to inform the investigating officer before leaving the country and to present himself when required with advance notice. The legal proceedings began in December 2022 following a complaint from a Dalit music research scholar. Vedan had obtained pre-arrest bail earlier, but contested the limitations on his travel and mandatory Sunday appearances. The court considered his consistent adherence to bail terms over a six-week period as a factor in modifying the conditions.
