A decision on the bail plea of Shimjitha Musthafa, who faces charges of abetment in connection with the death of a man, U.. Deepak, she accused of sexual misconduct on a bus in Kannur, Kerala, last month has been further delayed.
On Tuesday (February 10, 2026), the Kozhikode Principal Sessions Court called for an additional police report to determine whether her continued custody is required for further investigation. The court has already secured a report from the police. Judge V S. Bindhukumari is set to pronounce the order on the bail application only on Wednesday.
The police had previously secured the custody of Shimjitha for one day for interrogation and the corroboration of evidence. However, they have also received a complaint from another woman who appeared in the same video footage of the alleged incident. This woman complained that the footage, posted by Shimjitha on her Instagram account, breached her privacy and demanded that her image be removed.
The Medical College police registered the case under section 108 (abetment of suicide) against Shimjitha under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), following a complaint from the parents of the deceased, U. Deepak. Shimjitha had alleged that Deepak inappropriately touched her on a bus travelling from Payyannur town to a railway station on January 16.
Deepak was found dead in his house in Kozhikode two days later. The police arrested Shimjitha from a hideout in Vadakara just as they were preparing to issue a lookout notice on January 21.
The Kunnamangalam Judicial Magistrate’s Court had already rejected her initial bail application, agreeing with the prosecution’s argument that she might tamper with evidence or influence witnesses if released.
The prosecution also noted that granting bail could set a poor precedent regarding social media influencers interfering in the lives of ordinary citizens and public shaming.
At present, Shimjitha remains remanded in judicial custody at the Manjeri sub-jail in Malappuram.
Published – February 10, 2026 01:13 pm IST
