Kumbh Mela viral star's marriage: Police tighten probe, more trouble for CPM leaders

BHOPAL: The Madhya Pradesh Police has intensified investigation in connection with the marriage of a Kumbh Mela viral star. The investigation team, which took statements from the parents, also collected evidence of forgery. A report will be submitted to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in this regard. The police have hinted that there are likely to be more accused in the case. The police have also sought legal advice on filing a case against more people. The police did not clarify whether a case will be filed against the CPM leaders in Kerala for officiating the marriage.

Meanwhile, the police have received a complaint against CPM leaders for facilitating the marriage of Kumbh Mela viral star. The complaint is against party state secretary M V Govindan, Minister V Sivankutty, and MP A A Rahim. The report says that the complaint was filed by a Youth Congress leader. The complaint also demands that a case be filed under sections such as POCSO and the Child Marriage Prohibition Act.

Meantime, experts say that sections punishable by up to life imprisonment can be imposed in the case of arranging the marriage of a minor girl. Under Section 143 (Human Trafficking) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), it is an offence to traffic a person for exploitation by means of threat, force or inducement. If children are trafficked, the punishment can range from 10 years to life imprisonment. The consent of the victim is not taken into account here.

Section 54 (Aiding in committing a crime): A person who appears as an aide while a crime is being committed will be deemed to have committed the crime. Former DGP T P Senkumar clarified that sections of the laws ranging from the POCSO Act of 2012 to the newly enacted Indian Penal Code can be imposed. Section 19 of the POCSO Act can be imposed. According to this, anyone who knows or suspects that sexual abuse has been committed or is likely to be committed against a child must report it to the police or the Special Juvenile Police Unit. Failure to report this is punishable.

Section 337 (Forgery): Forging government documents or identity documents is an offence punishable with imprisonment for up to seven years.

Section 234 (Issuance of false certificate): Knowingly issuing a false certificate is also punishable. Those who are involved in the making of a false birth certificate will also be accused. Central ST Commission Legal Advisor Prakash Uyke clarified that there was a conspiracy in the incident.

Following the POCSO case, a charge of Scheduled Caste atrocities will also be filed. SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1898: If atrocities are committed against a Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe person on the basis of their caste, the accused can be imprisoned up to life imprisonment.

Indian Penal Code (IPC), 2023 Section 96 (Provocation of children for sexual purposes): This includes provocation of a child below the age of 18 for sexual exploitation or for wrongful purposes. Punishment: Imprisonment up to 10 years and fine. Taking a child without parental consent can be punished with imprisonment up to 7 years under Section 137.

Child Marriage Prohibition Act - Section 9: Marriage of a girl below the age of 18 or a boy below the age of 21 is punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh. Section 12 states that child marriages contracted by force, fraud or abduction are null and void from the outset.