POCSO case against Mahakumbh viral girl Monalisa’s husband after probe finds she is minor
PTC Web Desk: Monalisa, a young woman who gained nationwide attention as “Mahakumbh viral girl” has once again come under the spotlight. The police in Khargone, Madhya Pradesh, have registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act against her husband, Farman, after an official inquiry established that she is a minor.
The police have also invoked provisions related to criminal conspiracy and illegal marriage under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to records verified by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST), the girl was born on December 30, 2009. This makes her just over 16 years old at the time of her marriage on March 11. She belongs to the Pardhi tribal community and had first come into public view during the Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, where she was seen selling rudraksha garlands. A video of her recorded by a content creator quickly went viral, bringing her widespread recognition on social media.
The probe into the marriage began in Kerala, where the ceremony was conducted at the Nainar Deva Temple. Temple authorities informed investigators that they relied on Aadhaar card details provided by the couple to verify their ages before solemnising the marriage.
However, further scrutiny revealed discrepancies in documents used during the registration process at a Gram Panchayat office. Investigators found that a birth certificate submitted for registration had been forged. The document, reportedly issued by the Maheshwar Municipality, mentioned her date of birth as January 1, 2008, nearly two years earlier than what official hospital records indicate.
Following this, the Commission has directed authorities to annul the fake certificate.
The case has also taken a political turn, with the Commission noting allegations of involvement by certain political groups and organisations. Advocate Pratham Dubey, who raised the issue before the Commission on March 17, claimed that individuals linked to CPI(M) in Kerala and members of the Popular Front of India played a role in facilitating the marriage.
He further alleged that the episode was part of a broader attempt to create a narrative countering the concept often referred to as “Love Jihad.”
Meanwhile, the Commission has summoned the Directors General of Police of both Kerala and Madhya Pradesh to appear in New Delhi on April 22. It has also instructed both states to submit progress reports every three days until the investigation reaches its conclusion.
- With inputs from agencies
