The Kerala High Court has granted temporary protection from arrest to Mohd Farmaan Khan, the husband of Kumbh Mela sensation Monalisa Bhosle, in a case linked to allegations that she was a minor and had been kidnapped.

The case arose after a complaint was reportedly filed in Madhya Pradesh by Bhosle’s father, who claimed that his daughter was underage. However, the couple has firmly denied this, saying Bhosle turned 18 in January this year and was legally an adult when they married in March.

Fearing arrest in connection with the complaint, the couple approached the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. They argued that their marriage was lawful and backed this up with official documents, including a marriage certificate, a birth certificate and an Aadhaar card.

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On 23 March, Justice Kauser Edappagath issued an interim order directing that neither of them should be arrested for the time being. The judge noted that documents on record indicated the couple had married on 11 March and were now living together as husband and wife.

That protection has since been extended until 20 May, when the matter will be taken up again. The extension came after the court was told that a response from the Madhya Pradesh police is still awaited.

Monalisa Bhosle first gained attention during the 2025 Kumbh Mela, where videos of her selling beads went viral online. Her subsequent marriage to Farmaan Khan in Kerala attracted widespread publicity.

The interfaith union has also sparked controversy, with some groups alleging that Bhosle is only 16. These claims have led to scrutiny, including a reported inquiry by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, amid questions about whether the marriage could violate child protection laws.

The couple, however, maintain that the allegations are baseless. They say Bhosle’s family had initially supported the marriage but later withdrew their consent under external influence.

For now, the High Court’s order ensures that the couple will not be arrested while the legal questions surrounding their marriage continue to be examined.