AA Mohamed Hashim, the State General Secretary of the INTUC youth wing and a former national spokesperson of the Youth Congress, lodged a complaint against Suresh Gopi, accusing him of violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act and wearing a leopard canine tooth pendant.
Published Apr 30, 2025 | 3:41 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 30, 2025 | 3:41 PM
As Vedan faces the heat over the leopard tooth, Union Minister and Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi has also landed in trouble.
Synopsis: Though for a different reason, Kerala’s crackdown on the drug mafia has now reached the doorstep of Union MoS Suresh Gopi, after a popular rapper, picked up with a small quantity of ganja, was charged and remanded under the Wildlife (Protection) Act for allegedly possessing a leopard canine tooth.
Amidst a raging controversy in Kerala over the arrest of lyricist and rapper Hirandas Murali — popularly known by his stage name Vedan (hunter) — for allegedly possessing a leopard’s canine tooth, a complaint has been lodged with the state police chief against Suresh Gopi, the Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Tourism.
In his complaint dated 29 April, AA Mohamed Hashim, the State General Secretary of the INTUC youth wing and a former national spokesperson of the Youth Congress, accused the Union minister of violating the Wildlife (Protection) Act and wearing a leopard canine tooth pendant on a chain around his neck.
Photographs that flooded social media showed the actor-politician wearing a pendant, which resembled leopard teeth or claws.
Thrissur-resident Vedan, known for his thought-provoking songs questioning the ills in society, including the suppression of the voiceless marginalised, and caste-based discrimination, was arrested from a flat on Vyttila-Kaniyampuzha Road with six grams of ganja. Eight others, too, were arrested on 28 April.
Though the police granted station bail to the accused in the narcotics case, a team of Forest Department officials led by the Kodanad Range Officer arrested Vedan for possessing an article in violation of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. He has since been remanded in custody.
The detention of Vedan by the Forest Department sparked a widespread debate on social media, with users questioning the rationale behind “singling out” the singer while others were walking free. The issue took a casteist tinge with many pointing out that those left free belonged to upper castes.
Among those mentioned were actor Mohanlal and Gopi, the BJP MP representing Thrissur in the Lok Sabha.
Hashim accused Minister Gopi of publicly wearing a pendant made from a leopard’s tooth, an item protected under Indian wildlife conservation laws.
A copy of the complaint.
Hashim told South First that the incident took place on 13 June 2024, during Gopi’s visit to the Maminikkunnu temple in Kannur.
“Later, at a public event in Thrissur, he was seen wearing the same pendant. Visual evidence has already been submitted to the state police chief,” he said.
Hashim questioned how the minister came into possession of such a protected wildlife item and urged authorities to investigate the matter promptly.
“The Wildlife Protection Act is stringent. Why has no case been registered yet? Is there a separate law for Union ministers?” he asked.
Hashim added that while he hasn’t approached the Forest Department, the police must take action based on his complaint.
“A person who has taken an oath to uphold the law should not be found engaging in actions that could be seen as unconstitutional or in violation of the law,” he said.
He also clarified that, as a responsible member of the Congress, the demand reflected the party’s official stance as well.
When South First contacted Minister Gopi’s assistant, she said, ”The minister has not responded to the complaint. We have not received any request from the police or the Forest Department.”
Officials from the Divisional Forest Office at Chalakudy in Thrissur said no formal complaint has been received. “Action can only be taken if a formal complaint is filed. First, we must verify whether the item is genuine or a duplicate. If the minister wore it publicly, that too needs confirmation,” the office told South First.
Typically, the Forest Department would send such suspicious articles to a lab in Hyderabad for scientific testing.
Interestingly, the DGP’s office denied “noticing” Hashim’s complaint. ”We have not noticed the complaint yet. Once the complaint is verified, it will be sent to the departments and officials concerned for further investigation,” the police chief’s office told South First.
Meanwhile, the Forest Department intensified its probe against Vedan and collected evidence from his residence in Thrissur. Authorities said the leopard tooth, prima facie, looked genuine, but would be send for scientific testing.
Vedan at a concert in 2024. (Akshaysekhar/Creative Commons)
As part of the investigation, officials took the leopard tooth to a jeweller in Thrissur who had reportedly affixed it to Vedan’s chain.
However, the department has yet to contact Ranjith Kummbidi, who allegedly gifted the leopard tooth to Vedan.
Kummbidi reportedly claimed he had been unaware whether the item was a real leopard tooth. However, forest officials remained unconvinced and were planning to question Vedan’s close friends.
Meanwhile, critics on social media argued that a minor, bailable case involving just six grams of ganja has now spiraled into a serious, non-bailable wildlife hunting charge, carrying a potential seven-year prison term and penalty. Vedan’s caste, dark skin, political stance, and artistic background fuelled the case, they alleged.
Kerala has been cracking down on the drug menace following a series of alleged narcotics-fuelled violent incidents. Among those arrested — and granted bail at the respective stations themselves — were popular filmmakers and an actor.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
