Bhopal: A major breakthrough has emerged in the much hyped marriage case of the ‘Kumbh Viral Girl’ from Madhya Pradesh. An investigation by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has revealed that Monalisa who was presented as an adult at the time of her marriage, was actually a minor. According to official records, she was only 16 years and 2 months old at the time of the wedding.
The probe confirmed that the girl was born on December 30, 2009, while her marriage was solemnized in Kerala on March 11, 2026. The entire process was carried out using forged documents, adding to the gravity of the case.
During the investigation, it was found that a suspicious birth certificate issued by the Maheshwar Municipality was used to register the marriage in Puar village, Kerala. Authorities have now initiated the process to annul the marriage. A team led by Commission Chairman Antar Singh Arya scrutinized the records of Maheshwar Hospital, which revealed the truth about her age. This clearly indicates a deliberate manipulation of documents to legitimize the wedding.
Given the seriousness of the offense, an FIR has been registered against the accused, Farman Khan, at Maheshwar Police Station under the POCSO Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. In his complaint, the victim’s father alleged that the accused lured his daughter to Kerala by promising to make her a film star, and then tricked her into marrying him. The case involves not only sexual offenses but also the exploitation of a tribal community member.
According to Monalisa's father, his daughter met the accused during a film shoot. The accused promised her a ‘Colonel’ role in a movie and the chance to earn crores of rupees. He allegedly booked her flight ticket from Indore to Kerala and took her there. The investigation has also revealed that the accused and the girl had been staying in VIP hotels for the past three months, strengthening suspicions of a well-planned network behind the entire episode.
Advocate Pratham Dubey has raised serious allegations before the Commission, pointing to the possible involvement of the Popular Front of India (PFI) and certain political elements in Kerala. It is alleged that this nikah (marriage) could be part of a larger agenda, potentially involving foreign funding. While these allegations are yet to be officially confirmed, the Commission has broadened the scope of its investigation to include these aspects.
The NCST is probing the matter not just as an isolated criminal incident but also from the perspective of potential trafficking of tribal children. The manner in which the girl was lured, taken to another state, and forcibly married has deepened suspicions about a larger organized gang operating behind the scenes.
Taking cognizance of the case’s severity, the Commission has summoned the Directors General of Police (DGPs) of Madhya Pradesh and Kerala to its Delhi headquarters on April 22. The Commission has directed the police forces of both states to submit a progress report every three days. It has been made clear that the Commission will continuously monitor the case to ensure justice for the tribal victim.
Maheshwar Police are now actively searching for the syndicate and the network responsible for creating the forged documents used in the marriage. Simultaneously, the Kerala Police are investigating possible local political connections linked to the case.
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