Kerala HC refuses to extend transit bail granted to actor-husband of viral Kumbh Mela woman in kidnapping case

The Kerala High Court on Thursday refused to extend the transit bail granted to Farmaan Khan, an actor and husband of the actor woman who went viral during the Kumbh Mela, in a kidnapping case filed by her father.

A Single Bench of Justice Kauser Edappagath was informed by the State of Madhya Pradesh that the anticipatory bail plea moved by Mr. Khan had been dismissed by a Special Judge under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act in Mandleshwar, Madhya Pradesh.

The High Court observed that once the anticipatory bail plea was filed in Madhya Pradesh, the court did not possess any further jurisdiction in the matter.

Controversy erupted over the interfaith marriage between Mr. Khan and the woman after her family accused him of engaging in “love jihad” and filed charges alleging kidnapping, offences under the SC/ST law, and child marriage.

The National Commission for Scheduled Tribe had also issued a probe into the age of the woman after her father had alleged that she was a minor at the time of marriage.