Thiruvananthapuram: The controversy surrounding the marriage of Kumbh Mela-fame Monalisa Bhosle and Mohammed Farman Khan intensified after the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) shared an alleged phone recording of a conversation with Monalisa’s mother. In the recording, her mother is heard saying that her daughter is only 17 years old.
Following this, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) filed a complaint with the State Police Chief and the Poovar Station House Officer (SHO), demanding action against those who officiated and participated in the marriage.
In the complaint, the VHP demanded that a case be registered against Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty, Rajya Sabha MP A. A. Rahim, CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan, the girl’s husband Mohammed Farman Khan, and the officials of the temple where the marriage was conducted.
The complaint, sent via e-mail, also urged authorities to take action under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. According to the complainants, strict action should be taken against those who conducted the illegal marriage as well as against prominent individuals who, they claim, endorsed or facilitated the ceremony despite information emerging that the girl had not reached the legal age for marriage.
What Monalisa’s mother said
The marriage of Monalisa Bhosle, who gained global attention through her social media pictures from the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, with Mohammed Farman Khan in Thiruvananthapuram has triggered a major controversy after questions surfaced over whether the bride is a minor. Monalisa Bhosle is a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh, while Mohammed Farman Khan comes from Maharashtra. Reports indicate that the two had been in a relationship for nearly one and a half years after becoming friends on Facebook. Monalisa’s relationship with Farman Khan reportedly faced strong opposition from her family due to religious differences. Monalisa’s family had also arranged another marriage for her, which she did not accept.
VHP Kerala has claimed that Monalisa has not yet completed 18 years of age. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal Kshetriya Sanyojak Jijesh Patteri said this after a phone conversation with Monalisa’s mother, during which she stated that her daughter is still below the legal marriageable age. Monalisa’s mother is heard raising serious concerns about the marriage and her daughter’s age. According to her, “My daughter is only 16 years old. We did not give permission for this marriage.” She said the family lost contact with Monalisa after she became widely known following the viral Kumbh Mela photographs.
The mother further alleged that Monalisa’s father is currently in Kerala. “Farman Khan forced the girl into marriage and took her away from us under pressure.” She also claimed that she does not know the exact date of birth of her daughter because the official documents are with Monalisa. “All the certificates are in my daughter’s hands, and I do not know the exact date of birth,” she said. Appealing for help, the mother said, “Please help us bring my daughter back.”
If the claims about Monalisa’s age are accurate, the marriage raises serious legal concerns. Under Indian law, the legal age of marriage for women is 18 years, while for men it is 21 years. Any marriage involving a girl below the age of 18 may fall under the category of a child marriage. This has led to growing demands for clarification about Monalisa’s official age and whether the legal requirements for marriage were verified before the ceremony took place.
Did Kerala Govt and CPI(M) support child marriage?
The wedding, attended and blessed by senior CPI(M) leaders including Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty, CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan and Rajya Sabha MP A. A. Rahim, has now drawn sharp scrutiny after the doubts about Monalisa’s age. While the leaders present at the ceremony described Keralam as a place where love across religious boundaries can flourish, critics argue that the real issue is whether a minor marriage may have been publicly endorsed by senior political figures and elected representatives.
Several news reports published during coverage of the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in July and August last year had listed Monalisa’s age as 16. Those reports had gained significant attention after Monalisa’s pictures from the religious gathering went viral on social media, making her widely known across the country and internationally. Further doubts have emerged from information on a Facebook profile under the name Monalisa Bhosle, where March 5 is mentioned as her birthday. Based on various circulating reports, her age is believed to be around 17 as of March 2026.
Leaders Present at the Wedding: What Hindu Aikyavedi Says
The controversy has intensified because the wedding took place in the presence of senior CPI(M) leaders. Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty, CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan and Rajya Sabha MP A. A. Rahim were among those who attended and blessed the couple during the ceremony held at a mandir in Thiruvananthapuram district.
During the event, the leaders praised the marriage and highlighted Kerala as a place where individuals can marry across religious lines without fear. CPI(M) State Secretary M. V. Govindan said that the essence of different religions is humanity and that the marriage symbolised the values of social harmony that Kerala represents.
Critics argue that if the bride is indeed under 18, the participation of senior political leaders raises serious questions about elected officials appearing to endorse a marriage that may violate India’s child marriage laws. They point out that public representatives, especially ministers and members of Parliament, are expected to uphold the law and protect minors, and their visible support for a ceremony now under alleged scrutiny has triggered calls for accountability.
‘The Kerala Story’ Narrative and Monalisa’s Wedding
Hindu Aikyavedi State President R. V. Babu questioned why Monalisa’s marriage was conducted in a mandir instead of a mosque or according to Islamic rituals. He said the wedding was held in a mandir because Monalisa is a Hindu. According to him, Islamic religious law does not permit a Muslim man to marry a non-Muslim woman who continues to remain a ‘kafir’ without conversion. He argued that the marriage can be religiously recognised in Islam only if Monalisa converts to Islam, and said Islamic religious leaders should clarify this openly if that is not the case. R. V. Babu also alleged that the episode reflects ‘hypocrisy’, describing it as the reverse side of what he called the narrative seen in ‘The Kerala Story’.”
