Kerala Yüksek Mahkemesi Withdraws Police Protection for Kumbh Mela Star Monalisa Bhosle

The Kerala Yüksek Mahkemesi has officially withdrawn the temporary police protection provided for Monalisa Bhosle, a young woman recognized nationwide as the 'Viral Kumbh Mela Star'. The court canceled the protective measures, which started in Delhi in the past and were decided upon in Haziran, after law enforcement was unable to reach Monalisa. The state lawyer stated that the address and contact information in the petition submitted to the court were incorrect, and that despite all repeated attempts, the police could not find the woman. In the file brought before Judge Bechu Kurian Thomas, it was emphasized that this situation has become a recurring pattern rather than an exceptional incident. State authorities stated that whenever Bhosle applied to any court requesting police protection, the officials could not contact her.

Monalisa Bhosle had applied to the High Court, claiming that she became the target of hate campaigns both in the mainstream media and on social media platforms following her marriage to Mohammed Farmaan, who is Muslim. Stating that while she was in the Kerala state for a film shoot some time ago, her family opposed this marriage and her safety was under threat, she had asked the police for help. Following these legal and family disputes, the couple completed their marriage procedures by officially getting married. However, Monalisa's father filed an official complaint in the Madhya Pradesh state, claiming that Farmaan had kidnapped his daughter. Upon this incident, the young woman and her husband urgently approached the Kerala Yüksek Mahkemesi to obtain legal protection.

As deemed necessary, the court has, for now, invalidated the temporary protection order it had previously granted on 19 Haziran for the young woman. However, the judge clarified that this decision does not close all doors and that there is still hope. Monalisa's lawyer stated that he had not received any instructions from his client and therefore could not make a statement to the court regarding the matter. In an additional statement made by the court, it was noted that the case was scheduled to be reviewed again on 21 Temmuz for the progression of the case. In addition, it was emphasized that if Monalisa requests protection again in the coming days with a written petition, the authorities will be obligated to provide the necessary security measures.

All eyes are on the highly complex legal battle of the couple, which is also ongoing in other courts in the Madhya Pradesh state. The couple claimed that Monalisa's birth certificate is fake and that they wanted to increase her age to use in the lawsuits filed against Farmaan. Monalisa and Farmaan applied to the Madhya Pradesh Yüksek Mahkemesi, arguing that an unjust attempt was being made to take action against Farmaan under the POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. However, following a POCSO court in Madhya Pradesh rejecting Farmaan's request for anticipatory bail, the Kerala Yüksek Mahkemesi also refused last week to extend the one-month transit anticipatory bail period previously granted to Farmaan.

At the starting point of this turbulent process lies the viral story of Monalisa Bhosle at the Maha Kumbh Mela festival. The young woman had gained immense fame during this event, the world's largest Hindu pilgrimage, through videos recording moments of her selling 'rudraksha' necklaces on social media. After these videos were watched by millions of people, Monalisa, who was dubbed the 'Viral Kumbh Mela Star' among the public, was also featured on television screens, becoming a nationally recognized face. Her sudden rise to fame and subsequent marriage to a person of a very different faith sparked widespread debates in Hindistan's intense social agenda. The case files currently pending in courts across two different states pave the way for new developments that will be decisive for the future and freedoms of the young couple.