Kerala HC lifts protection for girl famous from Kumbh Mela after she cannot be traced

The Kerala High Court has revoked an earlier order that directed police to provide protection to a young girl who gained fame during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela. The court's decision came after police reported they were unable to locate the girl when attempting to enforce the protection order.

According to the girl's lawyer, P.S. Anishad, the police informed Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas that the girl's whereabouts could not be determined. The court subsequently directed the police to offer protection if the girl approaches the court seeking it herself. The interim order was vacated, with the case scheduled for further hearing on July 21.

The initial protection order was issued following a plea from the girl requesting safeguarding of her life. Her husband, Farman, is accused of kidnapping her. This accusation stems from a complaint filed by her father with the Madhya Pradesh police, who asserts that the girl is a minor.

The girl, originally from Indore, became widely known after a video of her selling rudraksh garlands at the Kumbh Mela went viral. She later married Farman in Kerala, reportedly in the presence of senior CPI(M) leaders, despite her family's objections. Her family's subsequent claim that she is underage led to Farman being booked under various laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

“

Interim order vacated. Post on July 21.