Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran on Tuesday ordered the transfer of Kodanad forest range officer R. Atheesh over the controversial arrest of rapper Hirandas Murali, alias Vedan.
According to an official release, the officer is being transferred out of the Malayattoor forest division after he shared unverified details with the media during the course of the investigation.
Among his controversial disclosures, he linked the accused to Sri Lanka, a statement that had not been officially verified. Such comments, made during an active investigation, were deemed inappropriate and not in conformity with proper investigative norms.
The Minister said the action followed a preliminary inquiry, which found the officer’s actions a prima facie violation of the code of conduct expected of government officials.
He added that the Head of Forest Force had been instructed to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter and submit a final report. Further action would be determined based on its findings.
Published – May 06, 2025 08:43 pm IST
