Kochi, July 2 (IANS) The Kerala High Court on Thursday declined to grant protection from arrest to the husband of the viral Kumbh Mela artist in the child marriage case registered against him, directing him to seek appropriate relief before the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The order comes as a significant setback to the accused, Mohammed Farmaan Khan, who is facing allegations of contracting a marriage with a minor.

The High Court refused to entertain his plea seeking protection from coercive action in Kerala, effectively leaving the way open for the Madhya Pradesh Police to proceed with the investigation, including his arrest.

The development follows the rejection of Farhan’s anticipatory bail application by the Special POCSO Court in Mandleshwar, Madhya Pradesh, where the case is being investigated.

With both the trial court in Madhya Pradesh and the Kerala High Court declining relief, the accused has been left with limited legal options.

Investigators are expected to take the next course of action in accordance with the law.

The case pertains to the marriage of the social media sensation who shot to nationwide fame during the Kumbh Mela earlier this year.

The wedding, solemnised in Thiruvananthapuram, soon became the subject of controversy after complaints alleged that the bride had not attained the legally prescribed age for marriage.

The case has been registered under the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

According to court proceedings in Madhya Pradesh, the prosecution alleged that documents produced by the defence to establish that the girl had attained the legal age were not reliable.

While rejecting anticipatory bail, the Mandleshwar court is understood to have prima facie found material warranting a custodial investigation.

The Kerala High Court, while refusing to grant protection from arrest, asked the accused to pursue his remedies before the jurisdictional High Court in Madhya Pradesh.

The legal battle has drawn widespread attention because of the bride’s massive social media following after videos of her singing at the Kumbh Mela went viral across platforms, turning her into an overnight internet sensation.

The latest order significantly strengthens the investigating agency’s position.

If no further protection is obtained from the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the police would be free to proceed against the accused in accordance with the law.

–IANS

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