Kerala HC refuses to prolong relief granted to Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa’s husband

The Kerala High Court today refused to extend the protection from arrest earlier granted to Mohammed Farmaan Khan, husband of Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa Bhosle, in connection with a case registered in Madhya Pradesh on allegations that he kidnapped Bhosle and that the couple's marriage is invalid [Moh Farmaan & Anr. v. State of Kerala & Ors.].

The Court had earlier granted Khan transit anticipatory bail, which carried a month's protection from arrest, so that he may approach a Madhya Pradesh court for anticipatory bail.

A special POCSO court in Madhya Pradesh yesterday dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

Following this, Khan urged the Kerala High Court to extend his protection from arrest so that he may filed an appeal before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

However, Justice Kauser Edappagath today observed that the Kerala High Court lacked jurisdiction to continue extending the transit anticipatory bail.

Referrering to the Supreme Court's decision in Priya Indoria v. State of Karnataka, the judge stated that an anticipatory bail plea would ordinarily lie only before the court having jurisdiction where the FIR is registered, except where reasons are substantiated for approaching another court.

"As per Priya Indoria, I don’t have jurisdiction. I have exercised my jurisdiction to the maximum," the judge said, before dismissing Khan's plea.

Monalise Bhosle rose to fame after videos of her selling beads during the 2025 Kumbh Mela went viral on social media last year. She married Khan in Kerala on March 11, 2026

Their interfaith marriage became controversial after allegations surfaced that Bhosle was only 16 years old and had not attained the legal age for marriage when she married Farman.

Questions were also raised regarding the validity of their marriage and whether offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) would be attracted.

Following a kidnapping complaint lodged by Bhosle's father, a criminal case was registered against Khan.

Apprehending arrest in connection with this case, the couple eventually approached the Kerala High Court seeking anticipatory bail and claimed that the allegations of Bhosle being a minor were false.

On June 3, the Court granted Khan transit anticipatory bail for a period of one month.

In a separate proceeding, the Court on June 19 directed the Kerala Police to provide protection to Bhosle after she alleged that the couple had been receiving threats, facing online hate campaigns and intimidation due to their interfaith marriage.

Today, the Court heard the couple's plea for a one month extension of the interim protection from arrest earlier granted to Khan.

Representing Khan, Senior counsel K Gopalakrishna Kurup submitted that the Madhya Pradesh Police were after Khan and that the entire State machinery had been set in motion against him.

He also highlighted that the couple has filed a plea questioning the alleged alteration of government records relating to Bhosle's age.

He urged the Kerala High Court to grant Khan some breathing time by extending his interim protection from arrest, so that he may also file an anticipatory bail plea before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The Court, however, has rejected this plea.

Bhosle and Khan were also represented by advocates M Sasindran, Satheeshan Alakkadan and Mrinal Chand M.

[Live Coverage]