Kerala HC vacates police protection order for Kumbh Mela viral woman

The Kerala High Court has quashed an order granting police protection to a woman who went viral during the Kumbh Mela. The state informed the court that the woman and her actor husband Farmaan Khan, wanted by the Madhya Pradesh police, remained unavailable after repeated attempts by the police to locate them.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas further directed the police to provide protection if the woman approaches them and submits a written request. The woman approached the High Court in June after her life was allegedly threatened. Her lawyer also told the court that he had not received any instructions from her.

After the couple got married in March, her father registered a complaint against Mr Khan for alleged kidnapping, offense against SC/ST persons and child marriage. Her family also accused him of engaging in “love jihad” through an interfaith marriage. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes also conducted an inquiry into the woman’s age when allegations surfaced that she was a minor at the time of marriage.

Mr Khan’s anticipatory bail application was rejected by a special judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenders Act (POCSO) in Mandleshwar, Madhya Pradesh, and then his application to extend his transit bail was also rejected by the Kerala High Court.

Published – 10 Jul 2026 21:06 IST