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The Kunnamangalam Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court successful Kozhikode, Kerala connected Tuesday (January 27, 2026) dismissed the bail exertion of Shimjitha Musthafa, who has been charged with abetment of the termination of 42-year-old salesman U. Deepak whom she had accused of intersexual misconduct connected a moving autobus successful Kannur earlier this month.
Delivering the ruling, Magistrate M. Athira agreed with the prosecution that the probe successful the lawsuit was progressing and that releasing the accused could pb to grounds tampering and power implicit witnesses. Besides, the investigators person to get forensic investigation of her mobile phone. The tribunal refused to entertain the defence counsel’s arguments including that Shimjitha had nary acquaintance with Deepak earlier.
Deepak, from Govindapuram, took his beingness connected January 18 aft a video changeable and posted connected societal media by Shimjitha (35), a postgraduate and erstwhile panchayat subordinate of the Indian Union Muslim League, alleged that helium had touched her inappropriately connected a crowded moving autobus astatine Payyannur successful Kannur 2 days earlier. The clip sparked online harassment and is believed to beryllium linked to his death.
His household has claimed that the interaction was accidental amid the rush. The autobus workers besides claimed that determination were nary complaints of intersexual harassment from the pistillate against him during the journey. No anterior constabulary ailment was lodged by Shimjitha, a Vadakara native. Deepak’s decease triggered wide outrage, with many, including family, friends and men’s rights activists, speaking retired successful his support.
The Kozhikode Medical College constabulary arrested Shimjitha connected January 21 from a relative’s location successful Vadakara aft a manhunt and registered an FIR nether Section 108 (abetment to suicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The remand study stated that 7 videos were secretly filmed and edited with the intent to humiliate Deepak, causing acute intelligence distress. Following his death, Shimjitha deleted her Instagram and Facebook accounts. Before doing so, she had removed the archetypal video and posted a follow-up clip explaining her reasons for sharing it.
Meanwhile, pursuing her arrest, she filed a ailment alleging intersexual misconduct via email with the Payyanur constabulary connected January 22. According to the complaint, she was sexually harassed portion travelling connected a backstage autobus from the Payyannur railway presumption to autobus basal connected January 16.
(Suicide Prevention Helpline: Disha - 1056, 0471-2552056)
