The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed the continuation of interim protection granted to the viral Kumbh Mela star and her husband, in their petition alleging that her birth records were manipulated to falsely portray her as a minor and criminalise her interfaith marriage.

The couple has also sought restoration of her original birth certificate and an independent investigation into the alleged forgery of government records.

The bench of Justice Gajendra Singh listed the matter for August 17, 2026.

Earlier, on July 13, 2026, the High Court had granted interim protection against coercive action in the FIR registered over allegations of juvenile marriage.

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 shoot 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.

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