Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa, husband Farmaan deny underage marriage claim; Kerala HC grants couple interim relief

The Kerala High Court recently granted interim protection from arrest to Kumbh Mela fame Monalisa Bhosle's husband Mohd Farmaan Khan, in a kidnapping case reportedly filed on allegations that Bhosle is a minor and was kidnapped by Farmaan [Moh Farmaan & anr v State of Kerala & ors]..In a petition filed last month before the Court, the couple asserted that Bhosle turned 18 years old in January this year and was an adult when she married Farmaan in March. They, therefore, sought anticipatory bail in any case that may have been registered over their union. They sought the Court's protection on apprehensions that they could face arrest in a kidnapping allegedly registered in Madhya Pradesh on a complaint by Bhosle's father. .On March 23, Justice Kauser Edappagath passed an interim order staying the arrest of the petitioners, after noting that there were documents to support their marriage and submissions that the couple was now residing as husband and wife."Annexure AIII would show that the applicants got married on 11.03.2026. According to the applicants, they are now residing as husband and wife. In these circumstances, there shall be an order not to arrest the applicants till the next posting date," the Court said. On April 8, the Court extended this protection from arrest till May 20, when the matter will be heard next. The Court passed this interim order after noting a submission by the Senior Public Prosecutor that a response from the Madhya Pradesh (MP) police has not yet been received..Monalise Bhosle rose to fame for her striking appearance after videos of her selling beads at the 2025 Kumbh Mela went viral last year.She married Farmaan on March 11 in Kerala. The event was widely publicised in the media. The couple has submitted that they met during a shoot of a Malayalam fim and fell in love with each other, before getting married.Their inter-fatih marriage, however, drew controversy with some sections asserting that Monalisa is only 16 years old and, therefore, has not attained the legal age to marry. An inquiry was reportedly launched into the matter by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), and concerns were raised whether the marriage was illegal and whether charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) would be applicable..Apprehending an arrest, the couple jointly moved an anticipatory bail plea before the Kerala High Court.They have placed on record their marriage certificate issued under the Kerala Registration of Marriages (Common) Rules, 2008, as well as Monalisa's birth certificate and Aadhaar card to maintain that she is 18 years old.The plea further stated that Monalisa's family had initially given consent to their marriage but later opposed it due to the influence of a relative.Monalisa and Farmaan were represented by advocates M Sasindran, Satheeshan Alakkadan and Mrinal Chand M..[Read April 8 order]