Kochi, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the state government to ensure that the woman who gained popularity as the “Kumbh Mela viral star” is not taken out of Kochi without her consent or the court’s permission.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas passed the interim order while hearing her petition seeking police protection, effectively preventing the Kerala Police from handing her over to the Madhya Pradesh Police unless approval is obtained from the High Court.
The direction came after the court was informed that the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) had asked the Kerala Director General of Police to hand over the woman to Madhya Pradesh Police in accordance with legal procedure.
The NCST had acted on a complaint by a social worker who alleged that the woman was a minor at the time of her marriage to Mohammed Farmaan. The commission had also directed that necessary orders be obtained from the High Court before implementing its directions.
Taking note of the woman’s concerns, the court observed that she was already under its protection and could not be handed over to anyone without judicial approval.
“The State shall ensure that she is not removed from the jurisdictional limits of Kochi against her will until the writ petition is finally decided,” the court said.
Her counsel told the court that she feared for her safety if she was sent back to Madhya Pradesh and claimed that she could face an honour-related threat from her family.
The lawyer also argued that she was 18 years and three months old when she married and claimed that her original birth certificate was later cancelled without her knowledge. The cancellation has been challenged before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The Kerala High Court also continued the police protection granted to her, while observing that maintaining security would be difficult if her location remained unknown.
Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas orally remarked that police could provide protection only if they were aware of her whereabouts. The court advised her to contact the designated woman protection officer whenever she faced an immediate threat.
The woman had initially received protection from the High Court in June. The protection was later withdrawn after police informed the court that they were unable to trace her, but was restored after she approached authorities again.
The matter will be heard further next week.
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