MP Police Team Arrives in Kochi to Investigate Viral Kumbh Mela Girl's Marriage
A team of Madhya Pradesh police officials arrived in Kochi on Thursday to investigate the highly controversial marriage of the viral Kumbh Mela girl in Kerala. The investigation comes amid persistent claims from her family that the social media influencer is actually a minor, despite her assertions and documented proof of being legally an adult.
Police Protection Sought by the Couple
Following the arrival of the Madhya Pradesh police team, the couple promptly approached the Kerala Police to seek protection. The woman submitted a formal request to the Kochi City police commissioner, specifically asking to prevent any forceful attempt to take her back to her home state of Madhya Pradesh.
Kochi Police Commissioner Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar addressed reporters, confirming that local authorities have already provided the MP police team with a copy of a Kerala High Court order. This order explicitly prevents the arrest of her partner until at least May 20. Commissioner Kumar, however, declined to comment on the specific investigative purpose behind the MP team's visit to Kochi.
Purpose of the Investigation and Disputed Age Claims
Police sources familiar with the matter indicated that the Madhya Pradesh team's primary objectives were to record statements from the individuals involved and, if the situation allowed, to potentially take the woman into custody. This potential action is rooted in the claim that her age is disputed according to official records maintained in Madhya Pradesh.
The woman has consistently and repeatedly asserted that she is 18 years old, presenting documents such as her Aadhaar card as proof. The controversy stems from her family's counter-claim that she is only 16 years old.
Details of the Police Team's Arrival and Actions
The Madhya Pradesh police team, consisting of four officials, managed to trace their way to Kochi by tracking the mobile phone of a friend associated with the woman's partner. Their tracking led them as far as the Thrikkakara area based on phone signal data. However, the person of interest was not present at that location.
Sources revealed that the team subsequently made contact with the individual by telephone, directing him to appear before them for questioning as part of their ongoing investigation.
Background of the National Controversy
The core of this controversy relates to the marriage ceremony between the couple, which took place on March 1 at a temple in Thiruvananthapuram. This interfaith union quickly garnered national attention, with the ceremony being attended by senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leaders, including State Secretary M V Govindan and Education Minister V Sivankutty.
Shortly after the wedding, the woman's family publicly claimed she was only 16 years old. In response, the couple presented official documents, including her Aadhaar card, which stated her age as 18.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes later conducted an independent inquiry into the matter. The commission reportedly concluded that her birth date was December 30, 2009, which would make her a minor, and subsequently deemed the marriage illegal. Based on this finding, the commission directed the Madhya Pradesh police to register a case against her partner under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act for allegedly marrying a minor.
However, sources indicate that, so far, only a case of abduction under Section 137(2) has been formally filed against the partner, not the POCSO case as initially directed. The situation remains fluid as investigations continue from multiple jurisdictional angles.
