Thiruvananthapuram: A court here on Monday sought a report from the Madhya Pradesh police over the alleged underage marriage of a woman who caught attention during the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela and later married her boyfriend, a Muslim man, at a temple in Kerala.
The Additional District and Sessions Court in Thiruvananthapuram, presided over by Justice Shibu MP, ordered the Maheshwar police station officer to submit a report before May 20.
The court was hearing the petition filed by P Nagaraj of Neyyattinkara, seeking registration of a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses Act against Communist Party of India state secretary M V Govindan, Education Minister V Sivankotty, Rajya Sabha MP A A Rahim, Mohammed Farman Khan, who married the woman, Poovar Arumanoor Nainar Devi, president of N Harendran temple, and secretary Ajithkumar.
The petitioner alleged that CPI leaders and temple officials had facilitated the marriage of minors.
He also requested that the marriage be annulled and an order be issued directing the police to conduct a detailed investigation into those involved.
While considering the petition, the court noted that a case related to the marriage has already been registered at Maheshwar police station in Madhya Pradesh and an investigation is underway.
Therefore, the court asked for a report from the Maheshwar police station officer to be submitted when the petition is heard again on May 20.
The Kerala High Court granted interim relief to Khan, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, from arrest in the Madhya Pradesh police case.
Khan and the woman claimed that a false case had been registered against them, asserting that she was over 18 years old. They also sought police protection, claiming that they feared being forcibly transferred to Madhya Pradesh.
The Madhya Pradesh Police team that recently arrived in Kochi to interrogate the woman and Khan returned without completing the operation.
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