A recent interfaith marriage involving popular YouTube comedian Khwaja Bande Nawaz Mahammad Hanif Shirahatti, also known as Mukaleppa, has unexpectedly faced serious challenges. The family of his bride has filed a formal complaint, accusing the comedian of forcibly marrying their daughter after allegedly “kidnapping and brainwashing” her. However, the bride herself has strongly refuted these allegations.
Adding fuel to the controversy, several Hindutva organizations have labeled the situation a case of “love jihad” and are demanding immediate action against Mukaleppa. Despite the bride, Gayatri Jalihal, publicly stating in a video and to the media on Monday night that her marriage was consensual and had her parents’ approval, these organizations remain unconvinced and continue their calls for intervention.
Mukaleppa, a well-known figure, commands a significant online presence with a following exceeding 2 million.
Police Investigate Amidst Controversy
Following the complaint lodged by Gayatri’s family with the Old Hubballi Police, authorities had been actively searching for the couple. On Monday night, Ms. Gayatri, accompanied by her advocate, presented herself to the police. Due to the highly sensitive nature of the case and the potential for protests from Hindutva groups, her questioning was carefully conducted at the Vidyanagar police station, with a female officer from the Women and Child Development Department present to ensure her well-being.
Later, addressing the media, Ms. Gayatri unequivocally stated that she and Mukaleppa had been in a loving relationship for two years and that their marriage was entirely her voluntary decision. She further asserted that her parents were fully aware of their relationship and had initially given their consent to the union.
Police Commissioner N. Shashikumar confirmed to reporters that Ms. Gayatri is an adult, over the age of 18, and has affirmed that she entered the marriage willingly. He added that investigations into the matter are ongoing.
Conflicting Allegations of ‘Brainwashing’
Interestingly, after Ms. Gayatri’s appearance before the police, where she explicitly refused to return home with her parents, her family escalated their claims. They alleged that their daughter had been “brainwashed” and even went so far as to suggest she had become “insane.”
In a stark rebuttal, Ms. Gayatri countered that it was her parents who had been “brainwashed” by external influences, leading them to retract their initial consent and make contradictory statements about her marriage.
Currently residing at the Mahila Santvana Kendra in Dharwad, Gayatri refused to meet her parents on Tuesday, who subsequently returned home without her.
Meanwhile, Pramod Mutalik, the head of the Sri Rama Sene, publicly accused the YouTuber on Tuesday of deceiving other young women and vowed that his organization would persist in its ‘fight against love jihad.’ He also cast doubt on the legal validity of the couple’s registered marriage in Mundgod and called for action against the involved officials.