High Court Blocks Compulsory Transfer of Actor Amidst Alleged Honour Killing Threats

Judicial Intervention Over National Commission Directive

A Single Bench of the Kerala High Court has issued a protective order for a female actor who gained public recognition during the Kumbh Mela, prohibiting her removal from Ernakulam without judicial or personal consent. Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas issued the decree while reviewing a mandate from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST). The NCST had directed the Kerala State Police Chief to hand the woman over to authorities from Madhya Pradesh to facilitate a reunion with her parents at her birthplace.

During the proceedings, the actor expressed grave concern for her safety, testifying that compliance with the commission's order could expose her to an honour killing. She alleges that the State of Madhya Pradesh is tacitly supporting such violence. To counter these threats, the court directed the Ernakulam City Police Commissioner to provide active protection. A female assistant sub-inspector has already been assigned as a primary contact for the actor’s emergency needs.

Contested Birth Records and Legal Jurisdictions

The legal friction stems from the actor's interfaith marriage to Farmaan Khan, also a performer. Following the union, the actor's father filed a complaint alleging abduction and claiming his daughter was a minor at the time. The NCST launched an inquiry into her age after her original birth certificate was reportedly canceled by authorities without her knowledge shortly after the wedding. Key legal points include:

• The petitioner asserts she was 18 years and three months old when she married.
• The actor claims her father utilized a fraudulent birth certificate to initiate the probe.
• Nearly 14 police officials from Madhya Pradesh, including a Superintendent of Police, were reportedly stationed in Ernakulam seeking to apprehend her.
• The petitioner has provided her Voter ID, PAN card, and what she maintains is her genuine birth certificate to the court to prove her majority.

Pending Rulings and Police Protection

The Ernakulam Central Police Station had requested access to both the original and revised birth certificates held by the High Court Administration to respond to the NCST directive. While the Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously ordered that no coercive measures be taken against the actor, Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas mandated that all age-related documentation be formally recorded for the current protection plea. The court clarified that the NCST order must be challenged via a separate legal filing. The case is scheduled for further consideration on August 4, 2026.

Source: The Hindu — Cities