MP High Court Grants Interim Protection To Viral Kumbh Mela Star & Husband In FIR Alleging Juvenile Marriage
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has granted interim relief to viral Kumbh Mela star and her husband, in their petition alleging that her birth certificate was manipulated to criminalise their interfaith marriage. The couple has also sought directions to restore her Birth Certificate and to conduct an independent investigation into the alleged forgery of government records.
After hearing the arguments on admission, the bench of Justice Gajendra Singh granted them interim protection in the FIR registered over allegations of juvenile marriage.
"Considering the submissions of counsel for the parties present, no coercive action against the petitioners pursuant to the FIR registered at Police Station Maheshwar, District Khargone be initiated till the next date of hearing".
The star had risen to national fame during the Maha Kumbh celebrations last year, after videos of her selling rudraksha garlands at the mela circulated widely on social media. Later, she went to Kerala for a shooting where she met her husband and got married in March 2026.
However, a controversy arose when the National Commissioner for Scheduled Tribes claimed that the star was a minor, only aged 16 years, at the time of the marriage. They alleged that a forged birth certificate was used to facilitate the wedding. Thus, a case under the POCSO Act was registered against the husband.
Their petition claimed that the star's father conspired to manipulate her birth records to criminalise her interfaith marriage and by lodging an FIR for kidnapping.
Subsequently, the couple approached the Kerala High Court seeking a stay on the arrest of the couple, which was granted. The High Court later granted transit bail to the husband to seek bail before the competent court in MP.
Thus, the husband approached the MP Court seeking anticipatory bail, which was denied, observing that the dispute over the wife's date of birth is a subject matter of trial and cannot be considered in the husband's anticipatory bail hearing.
In a recent development, the Kerala High Court vacated its interim order granting police protection after being informed that the police were unable to trace or locate the petitioner based on the contact number or the address provided.
Case Title: MB v State of Madhya Pradesh WP No. 18924 of 2026
For Petitioners: Senior Advocate Vivek Krishna Tankh with Advocate Jerry Lopes
For State: Additional Advocate General Rahul Sethi with Government Advocate Sunit Kapoor