The Kunnamangalam First Class Magistrate Court has rejected the bail plea of Shimjitha Musthafa, who was arrested in connection with the suicide of a Kozhikode native following the circulation of a controversial social media video alleging sexual harassment on a private bus. With the plea dismissed, Shimjitha will remain in judicial remand.
The prosecution informed the court that the investigation is still at a crucial preliminary stage and warned that granting bail could allow the accused to influence key witnesses. Statements from bus staff and fellow passengers are yet to be recorded, the Medical College Police said in their report to the court.
According to the prosecution, the video was recorded and circulated with malicious intent, causing severe mental distress to Deepak, a native of Govindapuram, who later died by suicide. Accepting these arguments, the court ruled against granting bail at this stage.
The defence, however, argued that Shimjitha had no prior acquaintance with Deepak and maintained that the charge of abetment to suicide was not legally sustainable.
The incident occurred on the 16th of this month, when Shimjitha allegedly recorded and shared a video claiming that Deepak had sexually harassed her on a crowded private bus in Payyannur. Following the video’s circulation on social media, Deepak allegedly took his own life at his residence. The mobile phone used to post the video has since been sent for forensic examination as part of the ongoing investigation.
