The Kunnamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court in Kozhikode, Kerala, on Tuesday (January 27, 2026) dismissed the bail application of Shimjitha Musthafa, who has been charged with abetmentof the suicide of 42-year-old salesman U. Deepak whom she had accused of sexual misconduct on a moving bus in Kannur earlier this month.
Delivering the ruling, Magistrate M. Athira agreed with the prosecution that the investigation in the case was progressing and that releasing the accused could lead to evidence tampering and influence over witnesses. Besides, the investigators have to obtain forensic analysis of her mobile phone. The court refused to entertain the defence counsel’s arguments including that Shimjitha had no acquaintance with Deepak earlier.
Deepak, from Govindapuram, took his life on January 18 after a video shot and posted on social media by Shimjitha (35), a postgraduate and former panchayat member of the Indian Union Muslim League, alleged that he had touched her inappropriately on a crowded moving bus at Payyannur in Kannur two days earlier. The clip sparked online harassment and is believed to be linked to his death.
His family has claimed that the contact was accidental amid the rush. The bus workers also claimed that there were no complaints of sexual harassment from the woman against him during the journey. No prior police complaint was lodged by Shimjitha, a Vadakara native. Deepak’s death triggered widespread outrage, with many, including family, friends and men’s rights activists, speaking out in his support.
The Kozhikode Medical College police arrested Shimjitha on January 21 from a relative’s house in Vadakara after a manhunt and registered an FIR under Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The remand report stated that seven videos were secretly filmed and edited with the intent to humiliate Deepak, causing acute mental distress. Following his death, Shimjitha deleted her Instagram and Facebook accounts. Before doing so, she had removed the original video and posted a follow-up clip explaining her reasons for sharing it.
Following her arrest, she filed a complaint alleging sexual misconduct via email with the Payyanur police on January 22. According to the complaint, she was sexually harassed while travelling on a private bus from the Payyannur railway station to bus stand on January 16.
(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha – 1056, 0471-2552056)
Published – January 27, 2026 01:14 pm IST
