Overview
- Madhya Pradesh police told the Kerala High Court on Friday that Section 3(2)(v) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has been added against the husband, and the state argued Section 18 of that law prevents anticipatory bail.
- The Kerala High Court extended interim protection from arrest for the couple until June 2 and reserved judgment on the couple's request to amend their anticipatory bail petition.
- The NCST reported the woman may have been about 16 at the time of the marriage and suggested forged documents were used, a finding that prompted a POCSO-related FIR in Madhya Pradesh.
- The couple filed their anticipatory bail plea in Kerala saying they feared threats and could not safely attend proceedings in Madhya Pradesh, while the MP government says such bail petitions must be filed where the FIR was registered.
- If the court accepts the MP government's view that the SC/ST Act bars anticipatory bail, the case could require the couple to seek relief in Madhya Pradesh and face tougher charges under Section 3(2)(v), which raises penalties for offences against Scheduled Tribe members.