A man has been booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after investigations revealed that his wife, Monalisa, who had gained attention during the Maha Kumbh Mela, was a minor at the time of their marriage.
Monalisa, a resident of Khargone district in Madhya Pradesh, had come into the spotlight during the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, where she was seen selling beads. Videos of her went viral on social media, drawing widespread public attention.
She later married Burman Khan on March 11, an alliance that had also drawn attention as an interfaith marriage. However, doubts were raised regarding her age, prompting an inquiry.
An investigation by the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes confirmed that Monalisa was underage at the time of the marriage. Based on the findings, an FIR was registered against Burman Khan at Maheshwar police station under provisions of the POCSO Act.
Officials said additional cases have been registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The inquiry established that Monalisa belongs to the Bharti tribal community, and hospital records indicate her date of birth as December 30, 2009, making her 16 years old at the time of the marriage.
Investigations further revealed that the marriage had been registered at a village panchayat office in Kerala using alleged forged documents. The temple authorities where the ceremony was conducted stated that they relied on Aadhaar details submitted by the couple.
