Kerala court seeks report from Madhya Pradesh police on Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa's marriage

A Kerala court on Monday sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh Police in connection with allegations that Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa was a minor at the time of her marriage to Mohammed Farman Khan [Neyyattinkara P Nagaraj v MV Govindan & ors].

Thiruvananthapuram Additional District and Sessions Judge (POCSO), Shibu MP directed the Station House Officer to obtain details of the investigation being conducted in Madhya Pradesh and to place a report before the court by May 20.

The Court was considering a private complaint seeking registration of case against the husband and others, who allegedly facilitated the marriage.

The judge rejected the State's request to dismiss the private complaint.

The private complaint was filed by advocate Neyyattinkara P Nagaraj, alleging that Monalisa was a minor at the time of her marriage to Farmaan.

The marriage, which was solemnised on March 11 at a temple in Thiruvananthapuram, was widely publicised in print and online media.

It was alleged in the complaint that the marriage was conducted in a Hindu temple between a Hindu and a Muslim in violation of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.

The complainant further claimed that documents were forged and the girls's age was misrepresented. Those details were submitted before the local authorities for enabling the registration of their marriage.

The complainant sought for the registration of criminal cases not only against the husband but also against several individuals, including political leaders from Kerala and temple authorities, who helped in facilitating and abetting the marriage of a minor.

Among those named in the complaint are CPI(M) state secretary, MV Govindan, State Minister for General Education and Labour, V Sivankutty and Rajya Sabha MP AA Rahim.

Based on the aforesaid allegations, the complainant sought registration of criminal cases against the accused under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO Act) , The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015.

The prosecution opposed the complaint and the registration of criminal cases against the accused, while maintaining that the girl had attained the age of majority at the time of her marriage.

It submitted that multiple documents including Aadhaar records, Election ID,PAN card etc., were produced before the local authorities to verify her age as 18.

The prosecution also indicated that it would produce Monalisa before the court so that the complainant could cross-examine her.

It also informed the court that the Kerala police had already examined the matter and that the Madhya Pradesh Police (MP Police) was still investigating the matter based on a complaint filed by Monalisa's father against her husband.

Taking note of the related case under investigation, the Court considered it necessary to obtain a clear status report before proceeding further with the complaint.

Earlier, the Kerala High Court had granted interim protection from arrest to the couple in connection with the case registered by Madhya Pradesh Police.