The narrative of the “Real Kerala Story” has suffered a devastating blow as the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) revealed that girl—the viral sensation of the 2025 Mahakumbh—is a legal minor. The investigation has further alleged that the birth certificate used to facilitate her marriage to adult Muslim youth Farman Khan was systematically fabricated. NCST have asked Madhya Pradesh police to register case against Farman Khan under POCSO.
Explosive details have surfaced in the case of Kumbh viral girl, the young Pardhi tribal girl from Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh’s Khargone district who shot to fame during the 2025 Mahakumbh Mela while selling Rudraksha malas. Just over a month after her high-profile marriage to actor-model Farman Khan (also referred to as Mohammed Farman) on March 11, 2026, at the Arumanoor Sri Nainar Deva Temple near Poovar in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has confirmed she was a minor at the time.
What makes the episode more contentious is the allegation that the marriage of the minor girl to an adult Muslim man was facilitated by Kerala’s Left government. Education Minister V. Sivankutty, MP AA Rahim, and CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan were present at the ceremony.
Kerala’s ruling LDF is in the eye of a legal storm
Kerala’s ruling LDF is in the eye of a legal storm. Minister V. Sivankutty, AA Rahim MP, and M.V. Govindan are under fire for publicly facilitating the marriage of a minor—a criminal act under Indian law. By celebrating a child marriage to score political points, these ‘people’s representatives’ have not only violated their oath but have now landed themselves in a legal minefield where public promotion of such an act is strictly punishable.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has demanded that a case of conspiracy be registered against those who facilitated the marriage. Now, the presence and alleged role of these leaders in the wedding could place them in serious legal and political trouble.
“I believe the conspiracy behind conducting the marriage of the native of Madhya Pradesh, in Kerala is quite clear. In my view, this was carried out according to a calculated plan to appease sections of Islamic voters, including those with extremist leanings, with an eye on electoral gains in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. The presence of CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan, State Education Minister V. Sivankutty, and Rajya Sabha MP A.A. Rahim at the wedding is the evidence of political involvement,” Vishwa Hindu Parishad Secretary Anil Vilayil said to the Organiser
He said the case involves alleged political interference, possible “Love Jihad” elements, and the use of forged documents, and called for a comprehensive investigation into all aspects. He demanded that cases be registered against those responsible and that they be brought to justice. He also stated that the Vishwa Hindu Parishad would pursue the legal battle to its conclusion, alleging that the conspiracy extends beyond the local level and involves political forces in Kerala, particularly the CPI(M), as well as organisations like the SDPI.
Vote for Marriage Deal?
The main twist is that the timing. It has raised further questions. The marriage occurred in mid-March 2026, barely weeks before the Kerala Assembly elections held on April 9, 2026. In the charged pre-poll atmosphere, both the ruling LDF (led by CPI(M)) and the opposition UDF have been accused of minority appeasement to secure votes.
The Muslim League (part of UDF) has defended Jammat e Islami as secular, while the CPI(M)-led LDF has faced criticism over reported outreach to outfits like SDPI and PDP. The same Minister V. Sivankutty, who attended the marriage of the minor and Farman Khan, is contesting from Nemom constituency. There were reports of him been linked to meetings seeking support from Islamist-leaning groups like SDPI and PDP in the final stretch of campaigning.
VHP and other voices have claimed elements linked to banned or radical groups (including past references to PFI networks) may have played a role in facilitating the interfaith union. The NCST findings of a fake or discrepant birth certificate have added weight to allegations that the entire episode was stage-managed for political optics rather than genuine protection of the girl’s choice.
Minor girl and Farman approached Thampanoor police seeking protection, claiming family opposition. Kerala police, under the CPI(M)-led government, swiftly accepted the documents presented and provided state shelter without rigorous cross-verification with Madhya Pradesh authorities.
The next day, the couple held a press conference where the minor rejected “love jihad” labels, insisting it was her choice and she was 18. The Left ecosystem amplified the narrative aggressively, positioning Kerala as a secular paradise where such unions are not just tolerated but politically endorsed.But the NCST probe shattered the facade.The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes investigation, triggered by family complaints and VHP alerts, examined hospital records from Maheshwar Community Health Centre and official birth certificates.
Child Marriage-Message sent by Parliamentarian and Minister?
After felicitating minor’s marriage with Farman Khan, Kerala MP A.A. Rahim, Minister V. Sivankutty, and CPM Secretary M.V. Govindan had stated that Kerala is a place where such marriages are celebrated. However, with Minor’s birth certificate now coming to light, serious concerns have been raised. The involvement of public representatives, including a parliamentarian, risks sending a troubling message that the state is endorsing or normalising child marriage.
NCST Investigation to confirm Minor Girl’s Age
Acting on the directions of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes Chairman Antar Singh Arya, a special investigation team carried out a detailed probe spanning Kerala to villages in Madhya Pradesh. Within 72 hours, the team linked key evidence from Kerala to Maheshwar in Madhya Pradesh, uncovering crucial facts in the case.
The inquiry led by Prakash Uike and Director P. Kalyan Reddy found that Mona Lisa was recorded as a minor in the official records of the Maheshwar government hospital. Leveraging his judicial experience, Prakash Uike helped the team access documents that had allegedly been concealed.
The investigation began at Sri Nayanar Deva Temple in Kerala. The temple administration informed the team that minor and Farman were married based on the age recorded in their Aadhaar documents, and the marriage was later registered at the Gram Panchayat office in Puar village, Kerala.
The probe found that the registration relied on an incorrect birth certificate. The investigation team identified that this certificate had been issued by the Maheshwar Municipality. Following these revelations, the Commission is preparing to initiate strict legal action against those responsible. It has summoned the DGPs of Kerala and Madhya Pradesh to its headquarters in New Delhi on April 22, 2026. A detailed report on the child marriage, including the role of political and radical organisations, is to be submitted to the central government.
The ‘Minor’ Truth: Birth Certificate Forged
While the CPI(M) leadership spent the last month mocking “Love Jihad” concerns using this marriage as a shield, the NCST’s forensic probe has shattered their narrative.
The Real Age: Hospital records from Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, prove the girl was born on December 30, 2009. At the time of her March 11 wedding to adult Farman Khan, she was just 16 years old.
Document Fraud: The NCST found that the birth certificate used to register the marriage via the K-SMART app was a fabrication. Authorities have now ordered the immediate cancellation of the forged documents.
Tribal Identity: Since Minor girl belongs to the vulnerable Pardhi tribal community, the NCST has invoked the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the POCSO Act against Farman Khan.
